Synthesis Studio - BA Environmental Design
Center for Investigation and Creation in Design CIDI - University of Puerto Rico - Fall 2016
More than an architectural proposal, this is a social movement, a campaign, as well as an experiment. There is a general idea that once third age citizens are retired and children are all grown up, life gets lonely and useless to this elder generation amongst the younger ones. In a world with critical economical shifts, climate change, and alarming housing market deviations, Booming intends to provoke a social co-living model of integration between the elderly and the university communities. Not only by proximity of localization of the two, but by adjusting their lives into crossing agendas that bring them together to collaborate and work.
The design considers psychological aspects to provoke integrations between intergenerational communities, benefiting the social and economic development of the site in which is to be deployed. No particular style manipulates the design of this project, but the circumstances it aims to deal with. Booming’s context adaptation is in social and economic means, aggressively conceived to trigger yet unknown realities from the environment it will gradually affect.
The contemporary aging generation, the so-called Baby Boomers, will soon be demanding a set of innovative services, differently from what most elderly homes provide today. They are associated with a redefinition of traditional values, for what their needs and wants are beyond mere medical assistance. Baby Boomers are exposed to the digital era and the social networking culture, so they will demand staying somewhat physical and socially involved. For that, they need vibrant scenarios that maintain active flow of people, culture, and currency, in which they could trigger their potentials and contribute socio-economically. Considering the opportunities, we designed a program that promotes integration among younger and elder through activities that can bring them together turning at the same time into the production of services and goods beneficial to both.
The Site and The Scale: Booming Plaza
Río Piedras is an old district of San Juan that houses the University of Puerto Rico’. A community of 16,000 thousand students, lives and moves there throughout the year. Among them exists a great community of elder people. The district, although surrendered to the car culture, conserves its urban grid and deployable walkable zones.
Río Piedras is an old district of San Juan that houses the University of Puerto Rico’. A community of 16,000 thousand students, lives and moves there throughout the year. Among them exists a great community of elder people. The district, although surrendered to the car culture, conserves its urban grid and deployable walkable zones.
The Place and The Living: Booming Centre
Specific spaces and facilities are located to trigger the proposal. Students will need
spaces to study, work, and live. While elders could find a space to contribute with their abilities or interests, learn how to grow a vegetable garden, participate in meditation and yoga lessons, or volunteer in the library and the coffee shop at the public levels.
Specific spaces and facilities are located to trigger the proposal. Students will need
spaces to study, work, and live. While elders could find a space to contribute with their abilities or interests, learn how to grow a vegetable garden, participate in meditation and yoga lessons, or volunteer in the library and the coffee shop at the public levels.
