Rebecca Rens

For many athletes, an injury means more than just a physical limitation. It is a period in which daily routines fall away, goals temporarily disappear, and confidence in one's own body comes under pressure. Despite this mental impact, attention during recovery is often focused primarily on the physical aspect. This can lead to feelings of frustration, insecurity, loneliness, and loss of identity.

Adem en Beweeg is designed based on the conviction that recovery also requires space. Space to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with oneself. The project explores how architecture can contribute to this process by creating an environment where rest, movement, and acceptance come together.
 

The design is structured as a recovery route. Visitors are guided step by step from movement to recognition and ultimately to mental rest. Light exertion without performance pressure, moments of reflection, and places for meeting combine to form an environment where visitors can recover at their own pace. Through nature, light, materials, and spatial experience, a healing environment is created that invites visitors to pause both physically and mentally to reflect on the recovery process.

With this project, mental health is not viewed as an addition to recovery, but as an essential part of it. Breath and Move shows that recovery is not only about getting stronger, but also about accepting, processing, and regaining trust in yourself and your body.