Architecture

Thermatherapy

by Christopher Beck

Inspired by Roman baths, artisanal local materials and craftsmanship, and other facets of the ancient city of Segovia’s history, this project transforms a former episcopal palace into a public pool complex that doubles as a live-in rehabilitation and hydrotherapy center for people with physical and mobility-based disabilities.

This design was created as a project for Design Studio VI – The Existing at IE University, which focused on the redesigning of an existing structure with the stipulation that it must include a residential component for a disabled demographic of the student’s choice.

Site and Demographic Analysis

The palace was constructed in 1550 by Juan Arias Dávila, Count of Puñonrostro as a residence for his family. It was later purchased by the Salcedo Dynasty of León, before changing hands again to Diocese of Segovia in 1755 to serve as a new episcopal palace. During this time, the palace and its adjacent church and plaza flourished as a bustling center of the city, and the palace accrued an impressive collection of metalwork, ceramics, glass and religious artifacts. The diocese eventually moved to a new headquarters, the building became a museum and a restaurant. As it stands today as of the spring of 2022, the entire plaza is abandoned save for cars using it as a parking lot, as the museum, restaurant and church have all closed indefinitely. The only building currently in use on the site is the Casa Familiar Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, a care facility and social center for people with mental disabilities operated by the Order of Saint Francis.

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This project seeks to address the needs of Segovia’s aging population local residents who are attached to their city and desire its improvement, the growing but generally transient population of students attending IE University, and the some 9,000 people with physical disabilities in Segovia province who require physical activity, social aid and occupational therapy.

Project Themes and Goals

  1. Provide an outlet for physical activity for all demographics, responding to Segovia’s lack of adequate exercise facilities and the growing issue of sedentary lifestyles among Spaniards, particularly older and those with disabilities.

  2.  Decrease social stigma among the different groups through the use of a shared general program and a high level of visibility and transparency between public and medical spaces (without sacrificing privacy).

  3. Connect the palace, which has long been underutilized and cut off from the more socially and commercially active parts of the city, with the modern city in a meaningful and intentional way.

  4. Occupational and physical therapy programs focused on building independence and providing practical skills for the patients.

All of this will be achieved through the use of soft and transparent materials, in particular a type of structural glass which can vary in transparency through layering, landscape features based on edible and fragrant plantings, and water through the central program of a public pool facility.

Architectural Strategy
The building today is a highly traditional Renaissance building with a heavy emphasis on the front-back axis, a simple, square geometry, and very thick, heavy materiality.
The building today is a highly traditional Renaissance building with a heavy emphasis on the front-back axis, a simple, square geometry, and very thick, heavy materiality.
The main gesture will be to create a new axis connecting the building, through an adjacent street, to the main areas of the city. This also allows the building to connect horizontally with its neighbor, the Cruz Blanca house, for collaboration and shared program.
The main gesture will be to create a new axis connecting the building, through an adjacent street, to the main areas of the city. This also allows the building to connect horizontally with its neighbor, the Cruz Blanca house, for collaboration and shared program.
To create this new axis, selective but minimal demolition of the existing structure is undertaken.
To create this new axis, selective but minimal demolition of the existing structure is undertaken.
This demolition allows more room for the core programs.
This demolition allows more room for the core programs.
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Final Design

Click here to view the project in more depth, or see the highlights below:

The ground floor plan features a main axis anchored by two lobbies, with the cloister serving as a way to get between different pool rooms. The floor materials accentuate the axes, and structural glass walls are used to create visual connections between spaces and give varying levels of privacy.
The ground floor plan features a main axis anchored by two lobbies, with the cloister serving as a way to get between different pool rooms. The floor materials accentuate the axes, and structural glass walls are used to create visual connections between spaces and give varying levels of privacy.
The main vertical circulation core is a spiral ramp designed for two wheelchairs to go up side by side, and to give every user the same circulation experience regardless of ability.
The main vertical circulation core is a spiral ramp designed for two wheelchairs to go up side by side, and to give every user the same circulation experience regardless of ability.
The ramp lets out into a public dining area where both residents and locals can eat, and the kitchen is a teaching kitchen that serves as occupational therapy for residents.
The ramp lets out into a public dining area where both residents and locals can eat, and the kitchen is a teaching kitchen that serves as occupational therapy for residents.
Some of the residences are designed for those who need less medical attention, with an emphasis on community-building and socialization.
Some of the residences are designed for those who need less medical attention, with an emphasis on community-building and socialization.
Larger units optimized for wheelchair users and others who require more constant medical care.
Larger units optimized for wheelchair users and others who require more constant medical care.
All selected plants in the garden are native and local, with the bulk of them also being edible so that residents can grow their own food and use it in the kitchen.
All selected plants in the garden are native and local, with the bulk of them also being edible so that residents can grow their own food and use it in the kitchen.
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Simple diagram showing some of the sustainable practices of the building's construction and program.
Simple diagram showing some of the sustainable practices of the building's construction and program.
Nearly all materials are sourced from within Castilla y León, cutting down on environmental damage caused by extraction and long-distance transportation, as well as feeding into the regional economy so that local material usage can become more feasible for more projects over time.
Nearly all materials are sourced from within Castilla y León, cutting down on environmental damage caused by extraction and long-distance transportation, as well as feeding into the regional economy so that local material usage can become more feasible for more projects over time.