Diseño de anteproyecto arquitectónico de un centro de recreación activa del adulto mayor para el Parque de la Familia de Cevallos, Tungurahua, Ecuador

Abstract

This thesis develops the architectural proposal for an Active Recreation Center for Older Adults in the canton of Cevallos, based on a comprehensive methodological process that incorporates theoretical, legal, and historical frameworks as key foundations for the project. The study addresses the increasing demographic aging and the lack of inclusive recreational infrastructure, identifying the need for spaces that promote autonomy, social participation, and intergenerational coexistence. Through a qualitative methodological approach, the research integrates documentary review, territorial analysis, case study evaluation, semi-structured interviews, and thematic analysis. These techniques enable a deep understanding of the physical, social, and cultural dynamics surrounding the older adult population, as well as the identification of functional, morphological, and contextual needs relevant to the design of specialized recreational spaces. The proposal is supported by the paradigm of community architecture, which prioritizes human scale, spatial coherence, and social integration within the built environment. Based on this framework, the study establishes architectural strategies that address composition, functionality, contextual integration, and environmental sustainability, resulting in a coherent architectural parti aligned with local territorial conditions and the needs of the older population. The outcome is a preliminary architectural design that organizes zones for recreation, learning, productive activities, and community encounter, articulated through accessible circulations and bioclimatic strategies. The project becomes a replicable model for small and medium-sized cantons seeking to strengthen the quality of life of older adults through inclusive, culturally rooted, and socially cohesive architectural interventions.