The current centre is housed in a building from 1950 attached to a development of mainly single storey houses. Renovated in 1995, it shows inadequate conditions as a school and residence for children who suffer CP. Due to the increasing demand for places and the fact that it was the only specialized residence in Madrid, an extension with the very best conditions was necessary.
The first phase focuses on the extension of the existing building through the creation of a new block of rooms and multipurpose halls adjoined to its southeast facade. The new rooms will therefore better accommodate the children’s needs and the rest of the halls will meet requirements. The extension is a 2,350 m2 plan distributed over 3 storeys. The ground floor consists of a glassed-in multipurpose hall for stimulation above which are small houses where the children sleep from which they can see, and be seen. The intention is to highlight the presence of the building in its environment, becoming a feature in its area.

COLOURFUL HOUSES
The project offers a happy an optimistic overall image; a place which is home to the hope for improvement. On the one hand the project is well integrated, adapting its scale to that of the neighborhood, of small houses that surround it. On the other hand it gives each bedroom a unique personality thanks to a colour range that achieves unity and uniqueness at the same time.
In the ground floor an unbroken glass facade creates an airy plinth open to the landscape. Over which the bedrooms of colours are raised, private and quiet; obtaining a constructed horizon with a panoramic window, from which viewers will be able to see out, even while sitting.

MULTIPURPOSE HALLS
On the ground floor there are several spaces for multipurpose halls which have a total area of 400 m2 and a height of 3.5 m. It faces southeast and over the garden, and provides natural light in every hall.
Access is solved through a glass and concrete cube which leads to a meeting room for visitors. There is another independent hall in a more reserved area dedicated to intensive care.

DORMITORIES
The floor planned for bedrooms covers 500 m2 has 10 new 20 m2 bedrooms for 2 children each that meet all climate control requirements.
A single 4 m panoramic window lets in natural light and frames the view.
The bedrooms have a maximum height of 3.7 m for spaciousness and wide doors that facilitate access to stretchers and wheelchairs.

Esther Koplowitz Foundation

Hans Abaton