Architecture bears the responsibility of shaping not only spaces but, consequently, lives themselves. When designing living environments for older adults, it is essential to balance autonomy with community, privacy with connection, and independence with access to care. We recently submitted a proposal for a public competition for 50 rental housing units for non-dependent elderly residents in Getafe, Madrid.

This project explores these delicate balances, grounded in a fundamental principle: older adults value and desire the same things as people at any other stage of life.

 

A Holistic Framework for Well-being

The project framework revolves around three interconnected aspects of well-being:

• Social relationships and cultural interactions: the networks and connections that give meaning to daily life.
• Psychological well-being: including the sense of control, identity, and continuity through life’s transitions.
• Physical aspects: the natural and built environments we inhabit, as well as our own bodies and their evolving needs.

Autonomy, Choice, and Control

The project focuses on offering residents autonomy, choice, and control over how they manage their lives in retirement. It enables people to be as independent as they wish while feeling part of a community and choosing how and when to engage.

Each dwelling consists of two modules—one containing the living-dining-kitchen area, the other the bedroom and bathroom—guaranteeing each resident’s privacy. Balconies are designed as extensions of the dwelling and therefore function as private outdoor spaces. Interior spaces are sufficiently generous to allow residents to bring their own furniture or reconfigure the dwelling according to their preferences.

Fostering Social Connection Through Architecture

Spaces that encourage social interaction offer the prospect of creating new meaningful relationships. Beyond common rooms designed for structured activities, the project encourages spontaneous encounters in intermediate spaces between private and public realms: small seating areas in circulation zones that facilitate closer relationships among residents.

The ground floor is organized around a spacious central courtyard and a communal corridor that strengthens interior-exterior connection. Large corridor doors can open toward the courtyard, admitting natural light and allowing residents to enjoy covered outdoor space when weather permits. Each dwelling features a terrace that offers unobstructed views of the gardens.

 

The Role of Nature

We have paid particular attention to accessibility throughout the project for people with reduced mobility, as well as to contact with nature: fresh air, views of trees and flowers. All gardens are positioned at ground level to ensure their use becomes part of residents’ daily routines. This decision eliminates both physical and psychological barriers.

The project site occupies a transition zone between low-density urban fabric and a collection of buildings of varying heights and scales. The urban strategy maximizes pedestrian connections and access to public transportation, positioning the building as a pivotal node and starting point of a boulevard that connects the surrounding area.

A Domestic Scale

The architectural proposal centers on offering a home filled with warmth. We opted for a low, two-story building and sought to place as many dwellings as possible on the ground floor, following principles of accessibility and the intimacy necessary for residents to truly feel at home. The building’s low profile generates a horizontal volumetry that integrates harmoniously into the urban fabric and contributes to a human scale.

 

Sustainability

The building is crowned by a large sinuous roof that not only provides a dynamic and unifying character but also responds to bioclimatic principles. Articulated with different overhangs according to orientation and solar exposure, it acts as a solar protection element, significantly reducing energy demand.

The roof features a solarium and terrace integrated through a light pergola. This multifunctional space extends the interior environments, enabling outdoor activities and promoting social interaction. It can accommodate yoga classes, physical activity sessions, or workshops. The terrace also offers the possibility of installing a small urban garden. The remaining roof surface is dedicated to a photovoltaic panel system for self-consumption.

The ground floor includes a large multipurpose room of a more private character, intended exclusively for residents. South-facing, the room maximizes passive solar gain, creating a naturally comfortable environment during winter while offering a covered, shaded outdoor space ideal for summer.

Industrialized Construction

To optimize costs and reduce construction timelines, we applied the CompactHabit comprehensive industrialized construction system. This system employs prefabricated modules that fully integrate the structure as well as interior and exterior finishes completed in the factory. Each module is designed for road transport and subsequently assembled on site, substantially reducing construction time.

Architecture for Living

By organizing the proposal around the interconnected dimensions of social, psychological, and physical well-being, we have sought to create more than housing—we have aspired to create environments where autonomy and community coexist, where privacy and connection are both honored, and where the built environment actively supports the lives residents want to lead.