OCCUPATIONAL CENTER AND SENIORS ASSOCIATION FOR BAIX CAMP IN REUS, TARRAGONA

The needs of the association at the time of the commision required three areas: senior center, occupational center and center of widespread attention, each one for users with varying degrees of support needs and autonomy.

The building is ordered with a modulation of 7.50 m between axles, always underlying such a structure that ensures flexibility over time, and allowing the movement of square meters from one area to another depending on number of occupants and their surface need for a particualr period of time.

A central circulation spine subdivides the building in classroom-atelier area to the north and classroom-leisure area to the south. The first is lighted by diamond-shaped boxes looking for the northern light, neutral, while the latter is organized around courtyards, avoiding the light, nuanced, protected from direct uptake with deciduous trees and creating the possibility of "micro- communities "around these courtyards.

To the south, the first floor classrooms fly over the ground floor also protecting from the sun, and appear as 6 floating concrete boxes on the almost fully glazed ground floor and open to the garden areas downstairs. Between each concrete box a deciduous tree also protects from the sun in summer and allows first floor rooms to have the feeling of being at garden level as well.

Interior partitions, enable for the union or separation of different spaces according to the functional needs, supporting the versatility expected of those "micro-communities" around courtyards.

DATA:

Architects: Jose Maria de Lapuerta, Carlos Asensio and Paloma Campo

Team: Architects: Marta Renom, Jorge Romera. Juan José Payeras.

Promoter: ASSOCIACIÓ DE PARES DE MINUSVÀLIDS DEL BAIX CAMP

Surface: 4,050 m2

Dates. Project: 2009