Ronald Mc Donald House
The Foundation Ronald McDonald House Ecuador, developed a housing project with free accommodation for low income provincial families to stay in the city of Guayaquil in order for their children to receive medical treatment in SOLCA, a hospital specialized in cancer treatment.
The Foundation Ronald McDonald House Ecuador, developed a housing project with free accommodation for low income provincial families to stay in the city of Guayaquil in order for their children to receive medical treatment in SOLCA, a hospital specialized in cancer treatment.
The goal of the housing project is to provide a “Home Away from Home” to children and their families while recuperating, a place to feel welcome, comfortable and at ease.
General parameters
Oriented from south to north, the Ronald MacDonald house was implanted in a 900 m2 square plot with a construction area of 1,243 m2. The housing project has the capacity to house about 35 families of two.
The project was developed as a two story building, Each floor is understood as a single unit with a specific use. The ground floor includes all public spaces overlooking the interior courtyard. The architectural program of the ground floor includes the entertainment room with a computer area, kitchen and dinning area, laundry room, administration offices with a meeting room and storage space. The entire first floor was developed for housing only 18 shared bedrooms and 4 comunal bathrooms.
Architectural Constrictions:
There are two specific limitations on the site. First, located inside a dense city area there are no parks or recreations spaces for kids and their families. The second issue becomes the vast architectural program of project, in a small lot for it to be developed.
Considering this lack of natural spaces and a invasive city environment, the building was designed in a O shaped form creating a central courtyard. The result is: "a house inward". Where this scheme facilitates the access of natural lighting, winds, and views.
However, to optimize the entrance of natural lighting, the ground floor lacks concrete walls. Sliding glass doors from floor to ceiling toward the central courtyard provides natural lighting. On the upper floor the bedrooms are placed towards the central courtyard creating a perimeter circulation.
Interior space and the choice of materials:
The use of colors and materials was an important factor to create a fun and interactive interior. Basic colors emphasize important focal points in the project: a red ramp, green main staircase and balconies in assorted colors accentuated by the white walls and concrete flooring. Interior wood finishes in certain floor and facade walls , as well the furniture provides a cozy and hommy feeling through the project.