Architecture students Alina Bueno, Alex Bello and Kiara Santana, from the School of Architecture and Design at PUCMM, received an Honourable Mention representing the Dominican Republic at the 14th ALACERO International Architecture Student Competition in Steel Design.

Their project, Antillas — Mental Health Healing Centre, reached the international competition after winning First Place at the national ADOACERO 2021 competition.

The international recognition marked an important achievement for the students and brought a Dominican architectural proposal into a wider Latin American conversation about architecture, steel and wellbeing.

Designing for Health & Wellbeing

The 2021 competition was developed around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

The theme challenged architecture students across Latin America to consider how the built environment could respond to contemporary health needs while exploring the possibilities of steel as a fundamental component of the architectural proposal.

For the Dominican Republic team, that challenge became an opportunity to address mental health.

Antillas — Mental Health Healing Centre

Proposed for Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Antillas responds to the need for infrastructure capable of supporting mental healthcare through a more dignified and human-centred environment.

The project explores how architecture can contribute to the patient’s experience by creating spaces that encourage wellbeing, social interaction, safety and a sense of normality.

Rather than approaching the centre exclusively as a clinical institution, the proposal considers the therapeutic potential of the environment itself.

Spatial relationships, atmosphere and the considered use of steel become part of a broader architectural strategy centred on care.

From PUCMM to Latin America

Antillas was originally developed during Design IX at the School of Architecture and Design at PUCMM, under the guidance of architect and lecturer Sarah Tió.

After receiving First Place at ADOACERO, the project was selected to represent the Dominican Republic at ALACERO, bringing the work developed within the university studio to an international platform.

At the Latin American competition, Antillas received an Honourable Mention, extending the project’s recognition beyond the national level.

The achievement represented not only the strength of the final proposal, but also the students’ ability to transform research into an architectural response to a complex social issue.

Competition
14th ALACERO International Architecture Student Competition in Steel Design

Recognition
Honourable Mention · Dominican Republic

Project
Antillas — Mental Health Healing Centre

Students
Alina Bueno · Alex Bello · Kiara Santana

Location
Puerto Plata · Dominican Republic

Theme
Health & Wellbeing · UN Sustainable Development Goal 3

Institution
School of Architecture and Design · PUCMM

Course
Design IX

Lecturer & Mentor
Sarah Tió

Year
2021