PUCMM Students Win 1st & 3rd Place

Students from the School of Architecture and Design at PUCMM were awarded First and Third Place in the 14th National Architecture Student Competition in Steel Design, organised by ADOACERO — Asociación Dominicana del Acero.

The 2021 competition focused on Health & Wellbeing, aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, challenging architecture students to explore how design and steel construction could respond to contemporary health needs.

Both awarded projects were developed as part of the Design IX studio at PUCMM, under the guidance of architect and lecturer Sarah Tió.

First Place — Antillas

Alina Bueno, Alex Bello and Kiara Santana received First Place for Antillas — Mental Health Healing Centre, a proposal located in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

The project responded to the need for more dignified infrastructure for mental healthcare, proposing an environment centred around wellbeing, social interaction, safety and a sense of normality for its users.

Architecture and the considered use of steel were brought together to create spaces intended to support the physical and emotional experience of patients.

Winning the national competition allowed Antillas to represent the Dominican Republic at the international ALACERO competition, where the project went on to receive an Honourable Mention.

Third Place — Bregalito

Erick Quezada, Isabel Read and Jafeisi Ventura received Third Place for Bregalito — Mental Health Therapeutic Centre, located in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic.

The proposal explored the relationship between architecture, landscape and steel, considering how a therapeutic environment could become integrated with its natural context while creating spaces centred on care and wellbeing.

From the Studio to Competition

Both proposals were developed during Design IX at the School of Architecture and Design at PUCMM, with the studio structured around participation in the ADOACERO competition.

Guided by Sarah Tió, students worked from research and concept development through to architectural resolution and presentation, responding to the competition’s programme, context and requirements for steel construction.

The results marked an important achievement for the students and PUCMM: two teams from the same Design IX studio placed First and Third at the national competition, with the winning proposal subsequently representing the Dominican Republic internationally.

Competition
14th National Architecture Student Competition in Steel Design · ADOACERO 2021

First Place
Antillas — Mental Health Healing Centre
Alina Bueno · Alex Bello · Kiara Santana

Third Place
Bregalito — Mental Health Therapeutic Centre
Erick Quezada · Isabel Read · Jafeisi Ventura

International Recognition
Antillas · Honourable Mention · ALACERO

Institution
School of Architecture and Design · PUCMM

Course
Design IX

Lecturer & Mentor
Sarah Tió

Year
2021