The assignment is motivated by the need to expand the Neuropsychiatric Centre Our Lady of Carmen, in Zaragoza. In the first phase there is a new support centre for youth with behavioural problems, and currently sharing facilities with the geriatric section and, by the nature of their treatment and pathology, was necessary to become independent. In a second phase will be built the "Module for Occupational Workshops."
Program
It has 10 single bedrooms and 8 double rooms, with toilets. The common areas of the internal are two living rooms and dining room. The program is completed with, reception room, two offices, laundry, office, control room toilets, storage and utility room.
Geometry
The floor plan is rectangular, dimensions 15.5 x 65 m. The facade has no cantilevers , but reflects the emptying of the building volume in the direction north, creating a courtyard to capture sunlight and allow controlled the patients to stay there in the summer.
The roof, for the most part, saw tooth shape, with variable slopes - very steep at some points - reflects, from the outside, the degree of internal mental activity in relation to the type of rooms they occupy: the resting or sleeping area with a slope of 60%, common areas or with maximum activity have outstanding peak of 240%. The treatment of the spaces occupied by the medical staff and caregivers has been dealt with flat roofs.
Color & Material
Facade and roof are covered with red zinc coated sheet. Historically, these centres, known as asylums were unrecognizable and hidden by society. But Hospital, "hospitare" in Latin, means "to receive as a guest" and together with the values of the Congregation and its founder, "Hospitality between people who suffer mental impairment" and "integrating the patients into society as far as possible" where the main goals... "The red colour is a symbol that makes them visible... that robs us of prejudice... that emphasizes the social work... makes us more sexy! The material... the shape of this whole "scene" had to be modelled nobly!"
