The proposal seeks to create an open and transparent day centre that invites residents and family members to enter into a space of coexistence. A space that is easy to use, easy to maintain and easy to walk through, both indoors and outdoors.
The complex has controlled access and socialising spaces. It has two distinct entrances: one for vehicles and one for pedestrians, accompanied by a designated bicycle parking area and a weather-protected waiting area. Inside, a central plaza forms the heart of the complex, providing a space where residents can gather, interact and socialise.
The design of the Day Centre seeks to promote the well-being and quality of life of the users through an architecture that favours natural light, ventilation and contact with nature. The Retirement Home has a centralised access that facilitates the distribution. At the entrance, on the ground floor, there is a waiting room for family members, the reception, toilets and the lifts leading to the other floors. The work spaces, such as the archive room and offices, are located more discreetly. Due to the slope of the terrain, the southern part of the building resembles a basement, where all service and technical areas are located, such as the open kitchen connected to all floors, the car park, the utility rooms and the laundry. The interior design is based on a ‘continuous ribbon’ that optimises circulation and organises functions.
The addition of courtyards highlights this continuity and increases the entry of natural light. The 6-place area has an ICU, consultation rooms, waiting room, storerooms, pharmacy, infirmary and offices. In the centre, there is a rehabilitation room, a multi-purpose room, a visitors’ room and toilets for public use. In the south area, there is a living area for 20 people with an interior courtyard of 80 m². From the living room, there is access to the outdoor gardens.
DESIGN AND INTEGRATION
The new building of the Pedrera Azahar Living integrated into the urban and natural environment. The design of the building is modern and functional, with a volumetry that explores the exterior space and interior courtyards that illuminate and ventilate the building. Universal accessibility is a priority, both inside and outside. The ventilated facade regulates light and protects from heat, while the roof and parapets are green to integrate nature into the building. The interior is warm and welcoming, with noble materials and specific lighting for each space. The rooms face east and west, while the living and dining areas are located at either end, connected to outdoor spaces.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
The favourable climatic context and the accessibility of the project through communication routes, as well as its status as an isolated building, led to the decision to develop a project that combines passive and active systems to ensure the maximum energy efficiency of the building. The main objective is to reduce their energy dependency and maintenance costs, as well as to minimise CO2 emissions both in construction and in its lifetime. The Pedrera Azahar Living project combines functionality, accessibility and sustainability to create a space that promotes the well-being and quality of life of its users, in harmony with its surroundings and committed to caring for the environment.
