Diseño arquitectónico de una residencia comunitaria para personas de la tercera edad en la parroquia Juan Benigno Vela del cantón Ambato

Abstract

This degree project focuses on the architectural design of a community residence for the elderly in the parish of Juan Benigno Vela, Ambato canton. The proposal addresses the need to create a specialized facility that provides comprehensive, functional, and dignified care for older adults in an urban-rural context, contributing to human and social development through architecture. This work arises in response to the lack of accessible and inclusive spaces that promote active aging and strengthen social participation for this age group. The identified problem was reinforced by interviews with professionals in the social and gerontological fields, including a representative from the Municipality of Ambato, who emphasized the need to progressively replace traditional geriatric centers with community day centers, aiming to minimize institutional abandonment by families. The research applied a qualitative phenomenological approach, using semistructured interviews as the main data collection technique. Based on content analysis, design criteria were defined around universal accessibility, microcommunities, sensory stimulation, integration with the environment, and environmental sustainability. As a result, a hybrid model is proposed that combines temporary residence for 8 users with a day center for 25 people, operating during daytime hours and articulated through community, therapeutic, and recreational spaces. This proposal falls within the research line “Exclusion and social integration” and offers a replicable architectural model to address the challenges of aging in similar contexts