Manifesto for Liberatory Architecture and Care

A vision for a paradigm shift

“We at Montessori Freedom are deeply convinced that people with disabilities, whether psychiatric, neurological, sensory or motor, are entitled to environments that respect their dignity, stimulate their abilities and enable them to live life to the full. For too long, the architecture and care practices in these establishments have been marked by a logic of control, restraint and withdrawal. It's time to rethink these places, not as spaces for managing illness, but as spaces for life and potential.

We believe that freedom and security are not mutually exclusive.

The built environment and support practices must stop treating these people as passive patients, and recognize them as capable individuals with personalities, histories and identities to be valued.

1. An archipelagic, modular and differentiated architecture

Space is a lever for psychic and cognitive transformation. That's why we advocate architecture inspired by the logic of the archipelago:

  • Separate, specialized units, adapted to needs: each unit must be designed to meet the specific needs of the people it accommodates, whether they suffer from psychiatric disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders or motor disabilities.

  • Where possible, it should even be possible to set up " out of doors " spaces, linked to the host establishment and benefiting from shared services, for people with greater autonomy.

  • Coordination between the different spaces: although autonomous, the different blocks remain connected to encourage fluidity and exchange, while avoiding uniform, impersonal structures.

  • Adjustable sensory environments: each space is prepared according to the sensory needs of residents (need for calm, stimulation, orientation). Colors, textures, sounds and light are selected according to Montessori principles to promote soothing and autonomy.

  • Privileged access to nature and to the outdoors: each archipelago incorporates an outdoor space, open to the world, fostering links with the environment and with society.

We don't build walls to contain, but spaces that invite people to open up.

2. An approach to care based on skills, not deficits

Disabilities, whatever their origins, do not define the people who suffer them. Our model of care is based on Montessori education, which places abilities and the potential for development at the heart of our care approach.

  • Structured, meaningful activities: far from being merely occupational, each task must have meaning and be part of a personal or collective project (gardening, cooking, creative activities, maintenance of a shared space).

  • Support through respect, not constraint: the support worker is a guide, not a supervisor. He adjusts his support to the person's level of competence, in a position of trust.

  • Control of error as a learning leverage: spaces and activities are designed to allow for error and self-correction, to encourage self-esteem.

  • An environment that values responsibility: people develop and maintain responsibilities adapted to their abilities, to maintain a dynamic of self-determination.

Care should not be limited to stabilization, but rather to support towards a meaningful life.

3. Technology for freedom, not for control

In the age of AI, technology can be fully integrated into professional practices to support safety and autonomy without becoming a tool for permanent control.

  • Smart support systems: combined with human observation, AI can identify and monitor subtle changes in behavior to prevent acute episodes without stigmatizing.

  • Adapted and differentiated interfaces: some people need visual cues, others voice or tactile assistance; technological solutions are modular and can be adjusted to these needs.

  • Spaces and furniture equipped with non-intrusive sensors: adaptive lighting and temperature, detection of unusual movements to guarantee safety without invading privacy.

Technology is designed to give freedom, not confine it.

4. Community and social bonds as therapeutic pillars

Isolation is a major aggravating factor in psychiatric disorders and disabilities. We believe that integration into community dynamics, both inside the facility and out in society, is essential to rehabilitation and quality of life.

  • Welcoming, flexible communal spaces: open lounges, creative workshops, shared gardens, communal kitchen areas, with the possibility of modulating interactions to suit individual needs.

  • Transitional places where families and the community can meet and exchange ideas

  • Intergenerational and inclusive activities: organize regular exchanges with children, students and local associations.

  • An active role in the community: proposing tasks and responsibilities that value the individual and promote social reintegration.

  • Openness to the outside world: each archipelago is connected to the surrounding world, to avoid any form of institutional isolation.

Sense of belonging is a powerful medicine.

We dare to build places that liberate

We believe in facilities that are no longer perceived as “structures”, but as genuine spaces for living, relaxation and human potential, adapted to the diversity of needs associated with disability. These spaces are also intended to be open to society, recognizing the contribution of people with disabilities to the life of their community.

Montessori Freedom is committed to promoting this vision among professionals, decision-makers and families.

It's time to move away from the logics of restraint and standardization and adopt support practices based on the freedom, dignity and capacities of individuals. Because in every individual, there's a potential that deserves to be revealed.”