Excerpt:‘Senior Living Residence: Lima, Peru’ is a Bachelors Design Project on Urban Housing by Adriana López Pacheco from the Facultad de Arquitectura – UPC that seeks to become an urban landmark, fostering meaningful connections between residents and the community. It distinguishes itself from conventional senior institutions by avoiding conventionalisms and focusing on a positive impact on the Miraflores neighbourhood. The structure is designed to welcome and embrace its occupants, ensuring a positive impact on the community.
Introduction: The housing designed for the care of the elderly aims to become an urban landmark in the city of Lima, highlighting its purpose of establishing a meaningful connection between the residents and the community at large. It distinguishes itself by purposefully eschewing the conventionalisms connected to conventional senior institutions, which frequently lack vitality and discourage their clients. Rather, the goal of this academic project is to make a positive impact on the entire Miraflores neighbourhood while designing a structure that welcomes and embraces its occupants.
The low-density environment surrounding the site and the terrain’s complex topography combine to create the distinctive triangular shape and terraced level arrangement. This endeavour has been guided by design principles such as the use of biophilic architecture, the addition of movable facades, and the development of garden spaces at various levels, culminating in a distinctive proposal in terms of aesthetics for this kind of institution.
Site Location in Miraflores, Lima – Perú | Site Model
The project is situated in Miraflores, one of Lima’s most vibrant and developed districts. It is in a privileged position due to its advantageous location facing Alfredo Benavides Avenue, which is well-known for heavy traffic and commercial activity. In addition, it is encircled by medium-density housing and close to one of the biggest parks in the vicinity. Owing to its special location and the requirement to design a project that serves the community as a whole as well as the needs of the residents, spaces for business, gastronomy, health, and entertainment have been planned in addition to user rooms.
The residence is designed with 60 apartments, 60 suites, and 30 individual rooms in total, each suited for a different user type and level of dependency. The building is made lively and becomes a landmark in Miraflores through the integration of multiple programmes.
Design Process
As one of the primary studio guidelines, structural development played a significant role in the design process. Priority was given to solving the structural grid based on the complex terrain’s triangular shape from the basement. Following the completion of the base structural proposal, upper level volumetrics could be experimented with, allowing staggerings to be left for better context adaptation.
Initial Structural Proposal
One of the main concepts that persisted throughout the design process was the creation of a “living heart” within the structure, which served as an articulating space with vertical green walls and zenithal lighting that enveloped one side of the residence and allowed for the observation of resident circulation from the first floor. On the other hand, it was chosen to experiment with wooden sun shades that provide various enclosure types, achieving different configurations based on the needs of each user and creating a “living facade” in relation to the facades and solar impact.
Final Outcome
First Floor Plan3d Section and Façade Details3d View N°2
The outcome showcases a dynamic and hospitable project that has been tailored to the requirements of senior citizens. It is intended to serve as a kind of “mini city” that offers them a diverse range of commercial opportunities, gastronomic experiences, recreational opportunities, and health services, all of which contribute to their overall well-being.
Principal FacadePrinciple EntranceDesign Principles | Structural ProposalInterior Heart of The Building
The primary aim was to transform this area into a genuinely dynamic and enriching home for its occupants, going beyond its basic purpose of providing lodging. Putting oneself in the shoes of older adults and emphasising their comfort, safety, and happiness in every facet of the residence’s design and execution has been one way to gain an empathetic perspective.
Commercial FacadeService Facade
All decisions made during the process, from the design of the facilities to the choice of services and activities provided, have been informed by this fundamental premise. The ultimate goal is to offer them a setting where they can live happy, fulfilling lives with their peers and the assurance that they will always have support and care.
3d View N°3
Conclusion: By eschewing traditional senior institutions, the design seeks to become an urban landmark that strengthens ties between the community and its residents while focusing on improving the Miraflores neighbourhood.
[This Academic Project has been published with text submitted by the student]
Site Context
Design Process
Final Outcome
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