Care center for dependent elderly people
Basic information
Project Title
Care center for dependent elderly people
Category
Prioritising the places and people that need it the most
Project Description
The project aim is to provide a space for elderly people living in the Meliana area. The building is developed around an interior courtyard, where all the different functional spaces are visually related while providing environmental quality to the users. The construction system is based on a prefabricated wooden structure and thick walls where the rice straw insulation is housed, previously dehumidified and compacted. The atmosphere created is unique for the needs of the users and their well-be
Geographical Scope
Regional
Project Region
Valencia Community, Spain
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
The Day Care Center in Meliana is a building that puts sustainability and care for vulnerable people first. The project develops a building with several open areas that allow the different functional spaces to be related while providing environmental quality to the building and its users. The building has wide walls and a sustainable construction system perfectly suited to the needs of the region (the Valencian Albufera): using prefabricated structural wood with rice straw bales as the main isolation system.
The two fundamental concepts on which the project is based are sustainability and humanization, understood in three dimensions: social, environmental, and economic.
As for the building, all the spaces are developed around an interior courtyard, following a main corridor, which becomes a space for ambulation. Users have a circular movement, which helps and promotes physical activity and orientation, favoring active aging. The main corridor surrounds the interior patio, in a ring circuit, with areas to stop and sit, direct connection with the interior courtyard and its vegetation, and access to all the main spaces and rooms. All spaces have direct natural light, which is fundamental for the well-being of users and workers.
The construction system is done with a prefabricated system of wooden framework and straw bales, which gives it very high levels of comfort and sustainability. It is a building with a negative carbon footprint, making it the first public building in Spain built entirely with wood and straw. The straw used is rice and wheat, from crops close to the construction, to reduce energy consumption linked to transportation. The entire structure is made of wood, with laminated wood beams and pillars and CLT forgings.
The project aims to provide the best-built environment for the users, being aware that spaces affect the body and the brain, and consequently, we are responsible for our design decisions and the impact that can have on the the users.
The two fundamental concepts on which the project is based are sustainability and humanization, understood in three dimensions: social, environmental, and economic.
As for the building, all the spaces are developed around an interior courtyard, following a main corridor, which becomes a space for ambulation. Users have a circular movement, which helps and promotes physical activity and orientation, favoring active aging. The main corridor surrounds the interior patio, in a ring circuit, with areas to stop and sit, direct connection with the interior courtyard and its vegetation, and access to all the main spaces and rooms. All spaces have direct natural light, which is fundamental for the well-being of users and workers.
The construction system is done with a prefabricated system of wooden framework and straw bales, which gives it very high levels of comfort and sustainability. It is a building with a negative carbon footprint, making it the first public building in Spain built entirely with wood and straw. The straw used is rice and wheat, from crops close to the construction, to reduce energy consumption linked to transportation. The entire structure is made of wood, with laminated wood beams and pillars and CLT forgings.
The project aims to provide the best-built environment for the users, being aware that spaces affect the body and the brain, and consequently, we are responsible for our design decisions and the impact that can have on the the users.
Key objectives for sustainability
The key element of low environmental impact is the use of ecological rice straw insulation on the building's facades.
Straw bales contain a high level of renewable material since the energy they use to grow is solar energy. And although straw bales require machinery for their transformation using fossil energy, the carbon footprint is negative. That is, during the life of the material, a greater amount of CO2 is absorbed than it is emitted.
A ton of concrete requires 50 times more energy to manufacture than straw.
Using straw for construction stores carbon that would otherwise be released. One of the big reasons why straw is used as a construction material is that it allows buildings to use less energy and have fewer carbon dioxide emissions over the life of the building.
One of the innovative criteria in the construction systems is the thermal envelope used on the building's facades, making use of natural and ecological insulation, based on the compaction of rice pods and their subsequent placement confined in a wooden enclosure.
The straw that has been installed has a density greater than 120 kg/m3 and a relative humidity percentage of less than 15%.
LED technology luminaires have a useful life of 50,000 hours, which substantially reduces the hours spent on maintenance. The electrical panels will be in easily accessible areas so as not to interfere with the health care operation of the building.
Facilities mostly run through removable roofs and are correctly distributed, guaranteeing easy access to the elements to be able to replace or manipulate them. In spaces that, due to conditions of environmental quality assurance, have continuous false ceilings, watertight registers are provided to guarantee and facilitate access to the elements to be registered in the preventive and corrective maintenance of the day center.
Straw bales contain a high level of renewable material since the energy they use to grow is solar energy. And although straw bales require machinery for their transformation using fossil energy, the carbon footprint is negative. That is, during the life of the material, a greater amount of CO2 is absorbed than it is emitted.
A ton of concrete requires 50 times more energy to manufacture than straw.
Using straw for construction stores carbon that would otherwise be released. One of the big reasons why straw is used as a construction material is that it allows buildings to use less energy and have fewer carbon dioxide emissions over the life of the building.
One of the innovative criteria in the construction systems is the thermal envelope used on the building's facades, making use of natural and ecological insulation, based on the compaction of rice pods and their subsequent placement confined in a wooden enclosure.
The straw that has been installed has a density greater than 120 kg/m3 and a relative humidity percentage of less than 15%.
LED technology luminaires have a useful life of 50,000 hours, which substantially reduces the hours spent on maintenance. The electrical panels will be in easily accessible areas so as not to interfere with the health care operation of the building.
Facilities mostly run through removable roofs and are correctly distributed, guaranteeing easy access to the elements to be able to replace or manipulate them. In spaces that, due to conditions of environmental quality assurance, have continuous false ceilings, watertight registers are provided to guarantee and facilitate access to the elements to be registered in the preventive and corrective maintenance of the day center.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Our body is equipped with a range of uniquely evolved systems, capable of receiving signals from the outside world, focusing on the body's movements. Our mind receives external stimuli through our peripheral nervous system (senses) and deciphers them to give a response in the form of action. The development of various patterns of interaction with space makes direct reference to the link between the body and its movements.
Light, topology, organization and use of space, geometry, rhythm, textures, materials, sounds, and smells... All these elements, involved in architectural design and the human sensory system, must be analyzed in relation to the physiology of this system, along with the interaction with the architecture.
Knowing the needs of the users of the space (patients, professionals, family members), we can translate the expected emotions into a dynamic perception of ways capable of tunning their needs with the architecture. The consequences are related to cognitive performance, health, well-being, and the improvement of social relationships.
Active aging and relationships between people are promoted, stimulating their abilities through a floor plan organized around an interior courtyard, whose perimeter is fragmented to locate the accesses. Circular ambulation promotes movement and health in older people, with a permanent relationship between interior and exterior. With the patio garden, as a cloister, vegetation, natural light, and life are incorporated into the heart of the building.
The search for environmental comfort through universal accessibility, good acoustic absorption, intuitive routes, and visual control of the complex and high-quality air and temperature, ends up shaping the building, achieving high-quality environments, and being very warm.
We base the design decisions on the scientific evidence provided by the sciences of the mind, encompassing the lived human experience, from a holistic and respectful approach toward the person.
Light, topology, organization and use of space, geometry, rhythm, textures, materials, sounds, and smells... All these elements, involved in architectural design and the human sensory system, must be analyzed in relation to the physiology of this system, along with the interaction with the architecture.
Knowing the needs of the users of the space (patients, professionals, family members), we can translate the expected emotions into a dynamic perception of ways capable of tunning their needs with the architecture. The consequences are related to cognitive performance, health, well-being, and the improvement of social relationships.
Active aging and relationships between people are promoted, stimulating their abilities through a floor plan organized around an interior courtyard, whose perimeter is fragmented to locate the accesses. Circular ambulation promotes movement and health in older people, with a permanent relationship between interior and exterior. With the patio garden, as a cloister, vegetation, natural light, and life are incorporated into the heart of the building.
The search for environmental comfort through universal accessibility, good acoustic absorption, intuitive routes, and visual control of the complex and high-quality air and temperature, ends up shaping the building, achieving high-quality environments, and being very warm.
We base the design decisions on the scientific evidence provided by the sciences of the mind, encompassing the lived human experience, from a holistic and respectful approach toward the person.
Key objectives for inclusion
The transformation of buildings for elderly people is given by a greater awareness of the care that we must promote as a society, taking care of them and respecting their wishes and needs. This is directly linked to the design of the buildings that are built to support them, such as this day center.
The vision that is transmitted of the building is one of transparency, both from the inside out and vice versa, promoting normality as if it were just another house in the town.
The stigma that has always accompanied dependent people, has been increased by the hermetic nature of their facilities, largely due to security measures that have not been worked from a respectful and inclusive perspective. The building is part of the community, and as such it has been integrated into the urban plan, with a small impact (it is a ground-floor building), and with an irregular perimeter that allows playing with the volumes and accentuating the two entrances, that is understood as the space that welcomes you and welcomes you.
The spaces are safe and at the same time open, understanding the needs of the people who use the space, and opening it up to the community. Dependency must be understood as another element of health, and designing these facilities is part of the support and recovery process. If the facility is open to the community, the integration and understanding tools are much stronger, and therefore, make it easier for users to have a more encouraging stay.
We believe that it is necessary to change the physical limits of the plot, allowing the interior space formed by the gardens to flow to the exterior: maintaining privacy and internal security, but allowing the positive interior environment to be perceived from the adjacent streets. In this sense, the enclosures of the plot and the two entrances to the center have been worked on, looking for solutions to make them more permeable and less hermetic.
The vision that is transmitted of the building is one of transparency, both from the inside out and vice versa, promoting normality as if it were just another house in the town.
The stigma that has always accompanied dependent people, has been increased by the hermetic nature of their facilities, largely due to security measures that have not been worked from a respectful and inclusive perspective. The building is part of the community, and as such it has been integrated into the urban plan, with a small impact (it is a ground-floor building), and with an irregular perimeter that allows playing with the volumes and accentuating the two entrances, that is understood as the space that welcomes you and welcomes you.
The spaces are safe and at the same time open, understanding the needs of the people who use the space, and opening it up to the community. Dependency must be understood as another element of health, and designing these facilities is part of the support and recovery process. If the facility is open to the community, the integration and understanding tools are much stronger, and therefore, make it easier for users to have a more encouraging stay.
We believe that it is necessary to change the physical limits of the plot, allowing the interior space formed by the gardens to flow to the exterior: maintaining privacy and internal security, but allowing the positive interior environment to be perceived from the adjacent streets. In this sense, the enclosures of the plot and the two entrances to the center have been worked on, looking for solutions to make them more permeable and less hermetic.
Results in relation to category
The project of a prefabricated building constructed with wood and straw, focusing on dependent elderly individuals, has achieved remarkable outcomes. For direct beneficiaries, the quality of life has significantly improved by providing an environment tailored to their specific needs. Person-centered care has positively impacted the mental and emotional health of residents, addressed loneliness, and enhanced their overall well-being.
The use of prefabrication in both the structure and façades has not only streamlined the construction process but has also contributed to reducing the carbon footprint. This sustainable approach establishes an eco-efficient standard for construction, benefiting the residents and having a positive impact on the community and the planet by promoting more environmentally friendly building practices.
Incorporating prefabrication has also enhanced the efficiency of sustainable energy technologies, further decreasing dependence on non-renewable sources. Additionally, the accessible design of the prefabricated building has improved the mobility of residents, promoting autonomy and active participation in society.
In terms of indirect benefits for the public, the project has set an exemplary model for elderly-centered prefabricated construction, inspiring similar practices in the region. Public awareness of the importance of sustainability and inclusion in architecture has increased, creating a positive cultural impact.
In summary, this prefabricated building project has generated highly significant benefits for direct beneficiaries by improving their quality of life, while also establishing a sustainable and person-centered standard that positively impacts the community and the environment, promoting a more inclusive and ecological vision of construction and the importance of the care of the elderly.
The use of prefabrication in both the structure and façades has not only streamlined the construction process but has also contributed to reducing the carbon footprint. This sustainable approach establishes an eco-efficient standard for construction, benefiting the residents and having a positive impact on the community and the planet by promoting more environmentally friendly building practices.
Incorporating prefabrication has also enhanced the efficiency of sustainable energy technologies, further decreasing dependence on non-renewable sources. Additionally, the accessible design of the prefabricated building has improved the mobility of residents, promoting autonomy and active participation in society.
In terms of indirect benefits for the public, the project has set an exemplary model for elderly-centered prefabricated construction, inspiring similar practices in the region. Public awareness of the importance of sustainability and inclusion in architecture has increased, creating a positive cultural impact.
In summary, this prefabricated building project has generated highly significant benefits for direct beneficiaries by improving their quality of life, while also establishing a sustainable and person-centered standard that positively impacts the community and the environment, promoting a more inclusive and ecological vision of construction and the importance of the care of the elderly.
How Citizens benefit
The project is a building open to the community, without fences or protections, and with the entire façade perimeter full of windows, which constantly connect the interior with the exterior. The patio also incorporates the possibility of implementing children's games, so that users can enjoy their family and grandchildren during their stay.
This unique character of the building offers the community a public and open facility, a meeting point for the inhabitants.
Since its initial phase, the project has incorporated the participation of dependent people, through co-creation methodologies, which have enriched the final solutions.
During the time of the competition, in which the main idea of the project was developed, the Alzheimer's Family Association of Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes (AFAEAA) https://www.alzheimeralcobendasysanse.org/) was contacted to collect sensitive information regarding the characteristics of people with dementia and how they inhabit the space, to incorporate into the Project those solutions that favor the well-being of the users.
This initial collaboration was decisive in generating the main idea of the project since in conversations with the association we were informed of the disease of dementia, in which one of its phases is involuntary wandering. From the need to allow and encourage the movement of these users, the idea arose of generating an interior courtyard as a cloister that allows the safe circulation of people.
During the project, a focus group of older people was created to elaborate, in a participatory manner, the main environmental elements and factors. This focus group has been decisive, making visible the vulnerable conditions of some of them, which the team of architects has incorporated into the Project, to provide the building with comprehensive accessible solutions.
This unique character of the building offers the community a public and open facility, a meeting point for the inhabitants.
Since its initial phase, the project has incorporated the participation of dependent people, through co-creation methodologies, which have enriched the final solutions.
During the time of the competition, in which the main idea of the project was developed, the Alzheimer's Family Association of Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes (AFAEAA) https://www.alzheimeralcobendasysanse.org/) was contacted to collect sensitive information regarding the characteristics of people with dementia and how they inhabit the space, to incorporate into the Project those solutions that favor the well-being of the users.
This initial collaboration was decisive in generating the main idea of the project since in conversations with the association we were informed of the disease of dementia, in which one of its phases is involuntary wandering. From the need to allow and encourage the movement of these users, the idea arose of generating an interior courtyard as a cloister that allows the safe circulation of people.
During the project, a focus group of older people was created to elaborate, in a participatory manner, the main environmental elements and factors. This focus group has been decisive, making visible the vulnerable conditions of some of them, which the team of architects has incorporated into the Project, to provide the building with comprehensive accessible solutions.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
The innovation of the project is reflected in the sum of these two major themes:
-sustainability: a vegetal building, which is committed to making architecture part of the solution to the problem of burning organic straw waste. A building with almost zero consumption, built under the highest environmental quality standards, and that promotes the use of natural materials such as wood, straw, and cork.
-humanization and people-based design: through an inclusive and accessible building, designed to promote healthy aging, and achieve a pleasant and comfortable environment, so that the most vulnerable people enjoy a safe and positive place, which generates welfare.
This building is also a public facility, offering an exemplary character that motivates public administrations to promote public and social projects with the highest degree of quality, sustainability, and a high social and environmental commitment.
-sustainability: a vegetal building, which is committed to making architecture part of the solution to the problem of burning organic straw waste. A building with almost zero consumption, built under the highest environmental quality standards, and that promotes the use of natural materials such as wood, straw, and cork.
-humanization and people-based design: through an inclusive and accessible building, designed to promote healthy aging, and achieve a pleasant and comfortable environment, so that the most vulnerable people enjoy a safe and positive place, which generates welfare.
This building is also a public facility, offering an exemplary character that motivates public administrations to promote public and social projects with the highest degree of quality, sustainability, and a high social and environmental commitment.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
For the design and the implementation of the project, we worked from a psychological and neuroscientific point of view since the beginning. We were aware that the only way to understand the building and have the most appropriate result for the users was to approach it with these disciplines. Users are highly dependent people, and their physical and psychological confidence requires an in-depth study without contempt or stigma.
The built environment has been shown to affect our brain and our behavior, so it is essential to be aware of the impact spaces can have on people. The neuroscientific base has provided us with data and studies that demonstrate which design parameters affect dependent elderly people and which are the best options to create environments with positive experiences. For example, it’s demonstrated that spaces with home-like proportions (ceiling height, room area…) induce calm, security, and general comfort for the person. Direct contact with natural elements of vegetation can also be added, since the brain perceives them as safe elements, while at the same time, they help to orient people in time (passage of the seasons) and be in contact with life.
The psychological basis has given us the vision of understanding how users think and feel, and how the built environment can help them in their daily lives, gaining confidence and self-esteem, being able to decide what to do and how to move around the building. It’s fundamental to understand that each individual is different, and we cannot judge or impose our thoughts on how spaces have to be, but work through listening, empathy, and humility.
The built environment has been shown to affect our brain and our behavior, so it is essential to be aware of the impact spaces can have on people. The neuroscientific base has provided us with data and studies that demonstrate which design parameters affect dependent elderly people and which are the best options to create environments with positive experiences. For example, it’s demonstrated that spaces with home-like proportions (ceiling height, room area…) induce calm, security, and general comfort for the person. Direct contact with natural elements of vegetation can also be added, since the brain perceives them as safe elements, while at the same time, they help to orient people in time (passage of the seasons) and be in contact with life.
The psychological basis has given us the vision of understanding how users think and feel, and how the built environment can help them in their daily lives, gaining confidence and self-esteem, being able to decide what to do and how to move around the building. It’s fundamental to understand that each individual is different, and we cannot judge or impose our thoughts on how spaces have to be, but work through listening, empathy, and humility.
Methodology used
The methodology unifies collaborative processes with innovative creative processes.
During the competition:
1. Creation of the group of architects, with the union of an architecture studio from Madrid (Virai) and an architecture studio from Barcelona (Ahead), both specialized in the healthcare and social care sector.
2. Detailed study of the needs included in the competition rules, by the architects.
3. Creation of a multidisciplinary group of architects and relatives of people with dementia, through the Alzheimer's Association. Two work meetings were held to collect information on the needs of dependent older people.
4. Development of the architectural proposal, through the organized work of the two architecture studios, with online meetings every two days.
5. Presentation of the architectural proposal to the competition.
For the preparation of the Execution Project:
1. Presentation of the project to the citizens of Meliana.
2. Periodic work meetings with the Meliana City Council
3. Creation of a focus group with 6 older adults, selected for their physical condition of dependency, through family members and people known to the architects. Development of a co-design process, with the implementation of a design thinking workshop, for the incorporation of the user needs
4. Meetings with local farmers and builders to develop a rice straw collection plan.
5. Meetings with the Ministry of Social Services, to review the accessibility and health conditions in the project.
During the execution of the works:
1. Creation of a technical team to supervise the works, made up of local engineers and architects.
2. Weekly visit to the work site by the entire team, for correct monitoring of the building construction
3. Monthly meetings with the City Council and its technicians, to report on the process, and collect needs.
4. Project delivery on time and price.
During the competition:
1. Creation of the group of architects, with the union of an architecture studio from Madrid (Virai) and an architecture studio from Barcelona (Ahead), both specialized in the healthcare and social care sector.
2. Detailed study of the needs included in the competition rules, by the architects.
3. Creation of a multidisciplinary group of architects and relatives of people with dementia, through the Alzheimer's Association. Two work meetings were held to collect information on the needs of dependent older people.
4. Development of the architectural proposal, through the organized work of the two architecture studios, with online meetings every two days.
5. Presentation of the architectural proposal to the competition.
For the preparation of the Execution Project:
1. Presentation of the project to the citizens of Meliana.
2. Periodic work meetings with the Meliana City Council
3. Creation of a focus group with 6 older adults, selected for their physical condition of dependency, through family members and people known to the architects. Development of a co-design process, with the implementation of a design thinking workshop, for the incorporation of the user needs
4. Meetings with local farmers and builders to develop a rice straw collection plan.
5. Meetings with the Ministry of Social Services, to review the accessibility and health conditions in the project.
During the execution of the works:
1. Creation of a technical team to supervise the works, made up of local engineers and architects.
2. Weekly visit to the work site by the entire team, for correct monitoring of the building construction
3. Monthly meetings with the City Council and its technicians, to report on the process, and collect needs.
4. Project delivery on time and price.
How stakeholders are engaged
The new building was promoted by the Meliana City Council, as a necessary infrastructure for its community and that of the adjacent municipality, Foios. The city council provided the site on which the building would be built and called the architectural competition.
The City Council got involved in the bases, requesting a building that met the highest level of sustainability, both in its natural and kilometer zero materials, as well as in the construction systems and efficiency and low energy demand.
At the regional level, the Department of Social Services, the Consellería de Servicios Sociales, incorporated its criteria for humanization and adaptation of the space to older people and supervised the Project at the beginning and the end it, to guarantee a 100% accessible and inclusive building, in several meetings with the architects.
At the national level, the Diputación, (regional delegation of the State) has been involved with the hiring of people and the operation of the building over the next years.
Other groups of stakeholders have been involved, contributing value to the final building:
. Rice farmers, who work in the Valencia area, were contacted to offer the residue of their harvest, rice straw, which is the main material of the building. The building has been a boost for the local agricultural economy, which has seen its income increase, by being able to sell to the construction company, the plant waste (straw).
.The College of Architects of Valencia has promoted awareness of the building, promoting open days for citizens to visit the building, within the “OPEN HOUSE” program (https://www.openhousevalencia.org/municipio-invitado-meliana /)
.The Polytechnic University of Valencia has offered its students of the Master of Sustainability, from the Faculty of Architecture, a practical class with the authors of the building, and the possibility of visiting it during construction.
The City Council got involved in the bases, requesting a building that met the highest level of sustainability, both in its natural and kilometer zero materials, as well as in the construction systems and efficiency and low energy demand.
At the regional level, the Department of Social Services, the Consellería de Servicios Sociales, incorporated its criteria for humanization and adaptation of the space to older people and supervised the Project at the beginning and the end it, to guarantee a 100% accessible and inclusive building, in several meetings with the architects.
At the national level, the Diputación, (regional delegation of the State) has been involved with the hiring of people and the operation of the building over the next years.
Other groups of stakeholders have been involved, contributing value to the final building:
. Rice farmers, who work in the Valencia area, were contacted to offer the residue of their harvest, rice straw, which is the main material of the building. The building has been a boost for the local agricultural economy, which has seen its income increase, by being able to sell to the construction company, the plant waste (straw).
.The College of Architects of Valencia has promoted awareness of the building, promoting open days for citizens to visit the building, within the “OPEN HOUSE” program (https://www.openhousevalencia.org/municipio-invitado-meliana /)
.The Polytechnic University of Valencia has offered its students of the Master of Sustainability, from the Faculty of Architecture, a practical class with the authors of the building, and the possibility of visiting it during construction.
Global challenges
The project of a building for vulnerable elderly individuals addresses crucial global challenges by combining humanization and sustainability, offering solutions tailored to local contexts. Firstly, it tackles the global phenomenon of aging by providing an environment specifically designed for the needs of older adults, addressing loneliness and lack of attention, and promoting mental and emotional well-being.
Sustainability becomes a fundamental pillar by integrating eco-efficient practices. The choice of local and renewable materials reduces the carbon footprint, thus addressing the local and global climate crisis. Additionally, the implementation of sustainable energy technologies not only decreases dependence on non-renewable sources but also establishes a replicable model for communities seeking environmental solutions.
The project addresses the challenge of accessibility by incorporating designs that facilitate the mobility of older people and ensure the inclusion of those with disabilities. This not only responds to the specific needs of the target population but also sets a standard for inclusive construction, a relevant global issue. The use of local materials such as the rice straw is fundamental for the project. Is the base of the project, what makes it sense for the community and the reminiscence of people. To connect with their routes, memories, and culture.
By focusing on local solutions, the project tackles the disparity in access to healthcare. By integrating medical and social care services, it provides a model that can be adapted to diverse sociocultural realities. Thus, it addresses inequality in the care of vulnerable elderly individuals, offering an approach that can be replicated and customized in different parts of the world.
Sustainability becomes a fundamental pillar by integrating eco-efficient practices. The choice of local and renewable materials reduces the carbon footprint, thus addressing the local and global climate crisis. Additionally, the implementation of sustainable energy technologies not only decreases dependence on non-renewable sources but also establishes a replicable model for communities seeking environmental solutions.
The project addresses the challenge of accessibility by incorporating designs that facilitate the mobility of older people and ensure the inclusion of those with disabilities. This not only responds to the specific needs of the target population but also sets a standard for inclusive construction, a relevant global issue. The use of local materials such as the rice straw is fundamental for the project. Is the base of the project, what makes it sense for the community and the reminiscence of people. To connect with their routes, memories, and culture.
By focusing on local solutions, the project tackles the disparity in access to healthcare. By integrating medical and social care services, it provides a model that can be adapted to diverse sociocultural realities. Thus, it addresses inequality in the care of vulnerable elderly individuals, offering an approach that can be replicated and customized in different parts of the world.
Learning transferred to other parties
At the forefront of sustainable and humanized architecture emerges an exemplary building that redefines paradigms: a unique structure constructed with wood, straw, and cork. Its innovative design not only embraces aesthetics but also functionality and eco-efficiency.
The methodology used in the planning and execution of the building stands as a guiding light for future public and sustainable projects. The careful selection of renewable and local materials, combined with efficient construction techniques, reveals an adaptable formula for different geographies. This approach not only minimizes the environmental footprint but also strengthens local economies by promoting the use of nearby resources.
The technology employed, from structural engineering to energy solutions, presents opportunities for replicability. The implementation of passive climate control systems, and thermal insulation techniques demonstrates how energy efficiency can be achieved without compromising comfort and could be easily integrated into communities seeking to improve their resilience to climate change, reducing costs and dependence on non-renewable sources.
In terms of processes, the exemplary building stands out for its collaborative and participatory approach. Community inclusion in key decisions and local training in sustainable construction techniques strengthen the social fabric. This participatory methodology not only fosters a sense of ownership but also transfers knowledge, empowering communities to replicate the model.
Products derived from the building reveal a commitment to circularity and promote conscious consumption and could be replicated in other contexts. This approach not only reduces waste but also stimulates new business and creative opportunities.
The building is a catalyst for change, we are building a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
The methodology used in the planning and execution of the building stands as a guiding light for future public and sustainable projects. The careful selection of renewable and local materials, combined with efficient construction techniques, reveals an adaptable formula for different geographies. This approach not only minimizes the environmental footprint but also strengthens local economies by promoting the use of nearby resources.
The technology employed, from structural engineering to energy solutions, presents opportunities for replicability. The implementation of passive climate control systems, and thermal insulation techniques demonstrates how energy efficiency can be achieved without compromising comfort and could be easily integrated into communities seeking to improve their resilience to climate change, reducing costs and dependence on non-renewable sources.
In terms of processes, the exemplary building stands out for its collaborative and participatory approach. Community inclusion in key decisions and local training in sustainable construction techniques strengthen the social fabric. This participatory methodology not only fosters a sense of ownership but also transfers knowledge, empowering communities to replicate the model.
Products derived from the building reveal a commitment to circularity and promote conscious consumption and could be replicated in other contexts. This approach not only reduces waste but also stimulates new business and creative opportunities.
The building is a catalyst for change, we are building a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
Keywords
aging
wellbeing
personcentereddesign
woodstructure
strawisolation
