top of page

HEALING ARCHITECTURE

Healthcare

Community mental health center in Mexico provides improved architectural model to support individuals with mood disorders, through a design inspired by vernacular architecture and religious motifs.

The form started with the idea of using a cruciform shape and taking advantage of the already established formality of the form such as the placement of columns, entrance points, and circulation aisles. Additionally, the form would be broken down by courtyards simulating a monastery or hacienda.

The design principles implemented include transparency, progression and transition, symmetry,

and materiality. Transparency is implemented through the openings of windows, doors, brick celosias allowing light to come in, and the use of skylights, open-air spaces, and courtyards were also explored and used in someway on the project.

Thesis Statement

Given the absence of qualified personnel and infrastructure, along with the current architectural typology, there is a pressing need for the establishment of a novel community mental health center in Mexico, this project will focus on mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and major depression integrating both mental and physical health services, enabling patients to manage their overall well-being. This novel approach aims to create an environment for patients, their families, medical personnel, aspiring psychologists, and the wider community to foster mental health awareness and support, incorporating vernacular architecture with an emphasis on religious motifs defining the center’s design ethos.

© 2025 by Alexandra G. De Leon. Created with Wix.com

bottom of page