On a bed of 3.4 acres of land, made from wood, stone, and clay, the Rockhaven Sanitarium was specifically designed in a way that reflected the theories of environmental determinism.1 The Rockhaven Sanitarium utilized its freedom in landscape and structural design, in an attempt to exercise and influence the relationship between cognitive behavior and atmospheric surroundings.2 An idea that believes a given environment plays a key role in shaping one's behavior.3 For example, a person placed in an uncomfortable environment versus a person placed in a pleasant environment, would presumably produce two very different and distinctive responses, one may develop a negative reaction, while the other may develop a positive reaction, depending upon their given surroundings. Therefore, using the concept of environmental determinism, the Rockhaven Sanitarium constructed its facility to resemble that of a Cottage plan, intended for the benefit of their patients surroundings and mental well-being.4 The Cottage plan is a sanitarium design that was meant to give the impression of a home-like appeal, consisting of a village-like layout, calming therapeutic landscape, gardening, meditative scenery, and open spaces.5 As previously mentioned, the structure of the Cottage plan was fabricated in the hopes of supporting the ideology of environmental determinism.6 In addition to the sanitarium's structural design, Rockhavens location in the state of California further supported its practice in environmental determinism. With California characterized with fresh air, sunshine, flattering climate, and open spaces, California stood as a perfect geographical region to create a pleasing atmospheric surrounding for a sanitarium like Rockhaven.7 Thus further emphasizing and revealing the facilities aim for a spacious private home comfort appeal.8  

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The Rockhaven Sanitarium is complete with 15 buildings, which includes, residential housing, an administrative office, a communal area, a storage room, a laundry room, a shop, a garden room, a hospital, and individual cottages. The primary entrance is located on the north facade of the sanitarium. The cottages consisted of the Pine cottage, the Canary cottage, the Coulter cottage, the Oaks cottage, and finally the Willows cottage. Each cottage included a living room and was equipped with comfortable seating; it included some decorations and paintings. The pines cottage was one of the largest with 10 bedrooms followed by Annex and Oaks with 8 then was canary with seven, the willows with 5 and Rose and Coulter with 4 each. Similar to the exterior layout, Rockhavens interior design attempted to capture the essence of a home-like appeal.9 Most of the buildings were structures that predominantly included a one story floor plan for the safety of the residents who stayed there. Much of the buildings had views to nearby hills and mature trees to surround the area and provide shade. The information given on each building is what materials were used to build the buildings and a couple of images to help picture what it was like at the time. 

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 1Letter of Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District Listing in the National Register of Historic Places, Los Angeles County Files, Los Angeles California, Accessed November 30, 2024, https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/108190.pdf,4.

2 Letter of Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District Listing in the National Register of Historic Places, Los Angeles County Files, Los Angeles California, Accessed November 30, 2024, https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/108190.pdf,4.

3  Letter of Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District Listing in the National Register of Historic Places, Los Angeles County Files, Los Angeles California, Accessed November 30, 2024, https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/108190.pdf,23.

4 Letter of Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District Listing in the National Register of Historic Places, Los Angeles County Files, Los Angeles California, Accessed November 30, 2024, https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/108190.pdf,23.

5 Letter of Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District Listing in the National Register of Historic Places, Los Angeles County Files, Los Angeles California, Accessed November 30, 2024, https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/108190.pdf,4.

6Letter of Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District Listing in the National Register of Historic Places, Los Angeles County Files, Los Angeles California, Accessed November 30, 2024, https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/108190.pdf,23.

7 Letter of Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District Listing in the National Register of Historic Places, Los Angeles County Files, Los Angeles California, Accessed November 30, 2024, https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/108190.pdf,9.

8 Letter of Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District Listing in the National Register of Historic Places, Los Angeles County Files, Los Angeles California, Accessed November 30, 2024, https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/108190.pdf,23;Letter of Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District Listing in the National Register of Historic Places, Los Angeles County Files, Los Angeles California, Accessed November 30, 2024,

9 Letter of Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District Listing in the National Register of Historic Places, Los Angeles County Files, Los Angeles California, Accessed November 30, 2024, https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/108190.pdf,9.