Structure studio Fernanda Canales has created a semi-open group centre for the aged in Mexico, utilizing a round kind and easy supplies
The Home for the Aged is positioned in Neco, within the border state of Sonora, an arid atmosphere with social and financial issues associated to cross-border smuggling. It has been shortlisted within the well being and wellbeing class of the 2024 Dezeen Awards.
The federal authorities initiated the 450-square-foot (42-square-metre) construction, which was designed to be welcoming for aged group members who can entry numerous well being and social providers there.
Due to restricted native assets, the Fernanda Canales crew opted to make use of easy supplies with minimal finishes to create a cost-effective undertaking that may be maintained simply and regionally.
Situated on a small, angular plot, the undertaking consists of two main constructions – one round and one rectangular.
“This responds to the need to benefit from the plot’s angular geometry and keep away from residual areas,” stated the crew.
“Thus, the centerpiece is the round constructing, positioned within the widest a part of the plot, and the small rectangular block serves as a second entry and transition zone to generate completely different gradients between the general public, semi-public, and personal.”
The round construction has a concrete slab and column construction, with minimal spacing to permit for straightforward development.
A foremost pathway results in the centre of the construction, a courtyard that enables for circulation to completely different factors within the single-storey construction. The inside areas are wider in direction of the again, the place the studio consists of areas for gathering.
Brick partitions line the facade and got perforations to permit for pure air flow, whereas three oculi have been positioned within the round concrete slab that acts as a ceiling to carry mild into the out of doors circulation areas.
Behind the positioning is a smaller rectangular constructing devoted to the well being capabilities of the power. It has related concrete beams and brick partitions.
The place the positioning tapers to some extent, a sequence of adobe-clad columns with semi-circular cut-outs on the high maintain steel rods to supply visible curiosity and shelter from the road.
In keeping with the studio, the essential supplies have been chosen to make the construction slot in with the environment, a mixture of residential and industrial constructions. Each factor of the construction, from the doorways to the sunshine fixtures, was designed to be simply and regionally replaceable.
A sequence of pure stone partitions have been positioned on the positioning, sheltering gardens that create extra areas for gathering.
“It’s a domestic-scale constructing designed with accessibility and a way of shelter in thoughts,” stated the studio.
“Developed on a single degree, it facilities round a patio and perimeter gardens to attain cross-ventilation and pure lighting in all areas.”
Fernanda Canales based her eponymous studio in 2002. Since then, she has created residential initiatives equivalent to a black concrete home with inexperienced roofs in a Mexican forest.
She additionally took half, alongside fellow Mexicans Tatiana Bilbao and Frida Escobedo, in finishing an experimental social housing group in Hidalgo.
The pictures is by Rafael Gamo.
Mission credit:
Architects: Fernanda Canales; Ángela Vizcarra, Alberto García Valladares, Rodrigo Ducoing, Yazmin Hernández, Tania Sánchez, Christian Ortega, Julio Romero
Consultants: Patio Taller de Arquitectura y Paisaje (panorama); NSA Lighting (lighting); FVS ingeniería (structural engineering).
Contractor: ICCARSON Desarrollos
