Diseño de un centro de atención psiquiátrica para enfermedades mentales de tipo afectivas en el Socorro, Santander

Abstract

The Comunera Province, particularly the municipality of El Socorro, presents high psychosocial vulnerability due to factors such as limited access to specialized mental health services, the progressive increase in psychiatric disorders, and the absence of a hospital facility that provides comprehensive care for these needs. This situation highlights the urgency of establishing adequate infrastructure to guarantee the right to mental health, especially for affective disorders, which have a strong impact on the population’s quality of life and social dynamics. In response to this context, the project proposes the design of a Psychiatric Care Center for Affective Mental Disorders, conceived as an integral therapeutic space that combines medical, psychological, and social care with architectural strategies that promote patient recovery. The architectural proposal is based on the creation of a human-centered environment, where the layout of central courtyards serves as the organizing axis of functional areas, promoting natural ventilation, appropriate lighting, and a sense of openness. These open spaces function as nuclei of interaction and contemplation, fostering a feeling of freedom. Likewise, the incorporation of biophilic design principles and the direct integration with the natural environment are conceived as therapeutic tools that help reduce anxiety, improve mood, and strengthen the emotional connection between users and their surroundings