Las Rosas Foundation
Puchuncaví, Valparaíso Region, Chile.
Fundación Las Rosas is a non-profit organization dedicated to welcoming and caring for older adults, especially those living in poverty and vulnerable situations. Its mission is to ensure that older adults experience this stage of life with dignity, affection, and the necessary care, recognizing the value of their history and promoting their overall well-being.
The project is located in Hogar Ventanas, in the municipality of Puchuncaví, in the Bay of Quintero, an area characterized by the coexistence of port, industrial, energy, agricultural, and environmental activities. Within this context, the residence is situated in a complex environment where quality of life and access to adequate spaces become especially important for its residents.
Currently, the home houses 64 elderly people —men and women over 60 years old—on a permanent basis, with an average age of 83. Many of them have conditions that require support in their daily lives, such as cognitive impairment, senile dementia, or Alzheimer’s, and are assisted by a team of 51 staff members.
Design focused on well-being and accessibility
The project arose from the need to improve the conditions of the home’s courtyard , which has a significant slope that limits its use by residents with reduced mobility. This challenge was approached as an opportunity to transform the space into an accessible, safe, and therapeutic environment.
Following the Cosmos Foundation ‘s methodology, a needs assessment of the site and its users was conducted, allowing for the design of a proposal focused on universal accessibility and the physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being of older adults. The goal is for all residents to be able to inhabit and enjoy the outdoor space, regardless of their mobility limitations.
Infrastructure for care and daily life
The proposal includes the addition of ramps, suitable paving, and adapted furniture—such as wheelchair-accessible tables—facilitating movement and use of the space by a greater number of residents. This infrastructure allows for safe movement and the performance of outdoor therapeutic and sensory activities.
The design seeks to activate the patio as a living space, contributing to the development of cognitive skills, sensory integration and physical activity, promoting autonomy and improving the quality of life of those who live in the home.
Spaces for meeting and well-being
The project incorporates social and personal spaces designed to strengthen the bond between residents, their families, and the home’s staff. It includes meeting areas and flexible zones that allow for recreational and therapeutic activities, or simply moments of rest and contemplation.
Likewise, spaces are integrated for the rest of the staff , recognizing their fundamental role in daily care and the importance of generating adequate conditions for their well-being during the working day.
More than a physical intervention, this project seeks to contribute to a new understanding of care, where the built environment becomes a key element for dignity and well-being. Through design, it promotes a space that welcomes, contains, and supports, integrating nature, health, and community.
This work reflects the commitment of the Cosmos Foundation to the development of projects that expand the scope of landscape architecture towards new social challenges, putting landscape design at the service of people’s well-being.
