Maria & José House / Sergio Sampaio Archi + Tectônica. © Leonardo Finotti

Overcoming Barriers: 4 Residential Projects with Accessibility Strategies in Latin America

由专筑网王沛儒，小R编译

据联合国（UN）统计，全世界有超过 10 亿人患有肢体或智力残疾，其中 80% 居住在南部国家。尽管他们的权利有所增加，但在获得医疗保健、教育和就业等基本服务方面仍然相对边缘化，在这个过程中依然会遇到很多障碍。在这种情况下，建筑对于确保他们的安全和空间独立性，使他们能够充分地、有效地参与社会至关重要。

由于众多法规的规定，无障碍设计在公共建筑中占有突出地位，但在住宅项目中却很少应用，随着老年人口不断增加，越来越多的建筑需要考虑这一因素。

在当代建筑史上，最著名的住宅项目之一是雷姆-库哈斯于 1998 年设计的波尔多之家。他的甲方下半身瘫痪，他说：“与预期相反，我想要一个复杂的房子，因为它就是我的世界。”设计的特点是三个相互连接的体块，通过中央电梯连接，方便楼层之间的移动，同时也作为业主的办公室，成为整个住宅的通道。

According to the United Nations (UN), over 1 billion people worldwide live with disabilities, whether physical or intellectual, with 80% residing in Global South countries. Despite advancements in their rights, they still encounter significant barriers and remain among the most marginalized in accessing essential services like healthcare, education, and employment. In this context, architecture is crucial for ensuring safety and spatial independence, enabling their full and effective participation in society.
Accessibility strategies are prominently featured in public buildings due to numerous regulations, but they are rarely applied in residential projects despite the growing elderly population and the increasing number of buildings that should consider this factor.
In the history of contemporary architecture, one of the most renowned residential projects is Maison Bordeaux, designed by Rem Koolhaas in 1998. The client, who had recently become paralyzed from the waist down, requested a dynamically designed home, stating, 'Contrary to expectations, I want a complex house because it will define my world.' The design features three interconnected volumes linked by a central elevator that facilitates movement between floors and serves as the client's office, providing access throughout the entire house.


AD Classics: Maison Bordeaux / OMA. © Hans Werlemann, courtesy OMA

波尔多之家是无障碍住宅建筑的典范，它成功地整合了创新和引人注目的空间。它为建筑中经常被忽视的部分提供了设计解决方案，在这些部分中，无障碍设施通常被视为附加设施，而不是项目的重要组成部分。

与位于法国的波尔多之家不同，下面这些住宅建在拉丁美洲的热带气候地区，面临着各种社会和经济挑战。其中一个例子是在预算严重不足的限制下专门建造的。然而，尽管存在这些差异，它们都展示了将无障碍设施作为项目基本准则的独创性。因此，本篇文章旨在展示建筑设计在创造无障碍空间方面的广泛可能性，并通过设计实例促进这个领域的讨论和包容性。

Maison Bordeaux serves as an example of accessible residential architecture that successfully integrates innovative and compelling spaces. It offers design solutions for an area often neglected in architecture, where accessibility features are typically viewed as checklists rather than essential components of the project.
Unlike Maison Bordeaux, situated in the French context, the houses selected below were built in tropical climates across Latin America, facing diverse social and economic challenges. One example was specifically built under severe budget constraints. However, despite these differences, they all demonstrate ingenuity in prioritizing accessibility as a fundamental project guideline. Therefore, this compilation aims to showcase the wide range of architectural possibilities for creating accessible spaces and to foster discussion and inclusion in this field through design examples.


Maria & José House / Sergio Sampaio Archi + Tectônica


© André Scarpa


© Leonardo Finotti


© Leonardo Finotti


© Leonardo Finotti

这个住宅位于巴西伊图，为一对有四个孩子的老年夫妇而设计。一些家庭成员行动不便，他们的主要要求是建造一栋以单层为主的住宅，这就要求住宅必须符合无障碍标准，比如坡道、电梯和浴室中的无障碍栏杆等。因此，住宅的主要功能区--社交区、休闲区和私人区--都分布在一个亭子里，亭子巧妙地顺应地形而建，没有直接接触地面。

Located in Itu, Brazil, this house was designed for an elderly couple with four children. Their primary requirement was to create a predominantly single-story residence due to the reduced mobility of some family members, necessitating compliance with accessibility standards—such as ramps, an elevator, and accessibility bars in bathrooms, among others. As a result, the main program of the house—social, leisure, and private areas—was distributed within a single pavilion subtly resting on the terrain, without directly touching the ground.


Elache Residence / Elmor Arquitetura


© Fernando Zequinão

Elache住宅建于巴西南部，是在现有建筑上增加无障碍设施。在客户的要求中，无障碍设计需要被优先考虑，所有空间、尺寸、流通路径和材料都经过精心挑选，以适应各种特殊需求。设计亮点包括平坦的地板和宽敞、平整的空间布局。

Elache Residence was built in southern Brazil as an accessible addition to an existing building. Accessibility was prioritized in the client's program requirements, with all spaces, dimensions, circulation paths, and materials carefully chosen to accommodate various special needs. Highlights include floors free of imperfections and a spatial layout featuring spacious, level environments.


Martha House / Naso


© Maureen M. Evans


© Maureen M. Evans


© Maureen M. Evans

这个住宅位于墨西哥的考古和旅游胜地马利纳尔科（Malinalco）与墨西哥最重要的朝圣中心之一查尔马（Chalma）之间。这个家庭成员有一对父母和两个成年子女，母亲年迈，行走不便，父亲双目失明。两个四十多岁的孩子与他们生活在一起。这个家庭的状况及其成员的要求是项目的出发点，建筑师由此产生了三个基本理念：首先，创造无障碍、高效和清晰的交通动线，使老年人能够独立生活；其次，促进父母和子女之间的互动和共处，同时尊重每个人的隐私；最后，包括开放可能性和促进共享经济的空间，为家庭创造额外收入提供便利。

This house is located in Mexico, between Malinalco, an archaeological and tourist site, and Chalma, one of the country's most important pilgrimage centers. The project was built with the assistance of a government program aimed at repairing damage caused by the 2017 earthquake. The family unit consists of the parents and their two adult children, with the mother being elderly and having difficulty walking, while the father is blind. The two children, in their forties, live with them. The family's situation and the conditions of its members were the starting point for the project, leading to three fundamental ideas: first, to create accessible, efficient, and clear circulation paths that enable independence for the elderly; second, to promote interaction and coexistence between parents and children while respecting each one's privacy; and finally, to include spaces that open possibilities and promote shared economy, facilitating additional income generation for the family.


Ramp House / Coelho Neto Arquitetura


© Tatiana Galindo


© Tatiana Galindo


© Tatiana Galindo

最后一栋住宅也位于巴西，它的特点是以宽敞的坡道作为结构和构图轴心，横穿住宅的每片区域。最初的想法是建造一座单层房屋，简化所有房间的通达性。然而，在研究了地形后，建筑师发现有条件从更高的视角欣赏美丽的日落。为了将无障碍设施和景观相融合，建筑师师设计了一个坡道。除了方便无障碍通行外，坡道还是住宅私人和社交空间之间的连接元素。

The final house in this selection is also located in Brazil and features a generous ramp as its structural and compositional axis, traversing different areas of the residence. The initial idea was to create a single-story house, simplifying accessibility to all rooms. After studying the terrain, however, it became clear that there was an opportunity to enjoy a breathtaking sunset from a higher viewpoint. The design response to integrate accessibility and frame the landscape was the creation of a ramp. Besides facilitating accessible movement, the ramp serves as a connecting element between the private and social sectors of the house.