The Misanthrope Society

The Misanthrope Society is a culmination beyond a café, a bistro, and a bookstore but a creative brand and social enterprise that focuses on providing care for those who are going through depression and mental illness.

The project was established to help and be with those who once sought to give up on life. The founder of the business through his own experience discovered that those who were shunned away by society due to mental illness have challenges adjusting their way back to society.

By establishing a sustainable social enterprise in the forms of café, bistro, and bookstore, the business is able to utilize the profit to improve and bring up public awareness on depression by hosting support groups, seminars, fine art venues, and mental illness related study group.

In terms of interior and spatial design, it is discovered that more than 75% of the depression population in Taiwan has six major preferences which include antique, retrospective Taiwanese elements, childhood memory, literature, art, and appreciation for detail orientated objects.

Thus, the space is imbued with various nostalgic Taiwanese elements such as black and white quartz flooring, plastic window grill, old fashion pendant light, and wooden chair. The elements altogether combine with minimal spatial form along with intricate tactile materials in order to reflect the unique inner space of those with depression.

Every design decision is made with the mission to create a space that can help the patients readjust back into society.