Sensitivity to Needs

The design of the Home for the Elderly in Leiria responds to a variety of requirements resulting from in-depth analyzes of the different needs of society. The assumption is that the user and his well-being are the most important, which is why the building is associated with the needs of people and nature. The facility designed in Portugal also responds to the search for the identity of the place where I am, trying to connect with the surrounding landscape so that it becomes its natural complement.

Leiria is a city in central Portugal combining art and culture flows from Porto and Lisbon. The identity of this region is influenced by numerous links with two influential urban centers. The area in which the project is located is very diverse, the landscape is changeable, combining a hilly land with numerous olive groves and vineyards with a maritime aura coming from the Atlantic Ocean.

The design assumption is based on a combination of a rural area with a small-town atmosphere. The facility consists of several buildings growing on top of each other, creating a small village reflecting the climate of the region. The creation of a small village aims to improve interpersonal relations and create new social bonds that will improve the well-being of the inhabitants. Numerous meeting places and various opportunities to spend free time will allow you to create a mutually supportive community that will be able to enjoy life.

The project was created based on universal design, which does not exclude anyone from social life and allows you to use the entire facility without barriers. Each room and common spaces are adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. The buildings, which are economical in form, have roofs that form the heart of the entire complex, which is the green atrium - a place for meetings and integration. The entire complex reproduces traditional Portuguese solutions, such as white on the facades and orange on the roof, cherishing the past in a modern way.