Architecture and Recovery

architecture and

recovery: design strategies for the wellbeing of women in domestic violence shelters in paraguay

registration number: 200202277

word count: 4363

The University of Sheffield

August 2021

Maria Fernanda Castillo Giménez

Gender-based violence is considered a public health and human rights issue by the UN and World Health Organization, among others. It is “gender-based” because it is heavily rooted in the inequality between men and women across the world.

Latin America reports an alarming rate of gender-based violence and one of the highest incidences of partner violence in the world, second only to Africa. This ranges from emotional to physical and sexual violence.

Up to 35% of Latin-American women have experienced violence from their intimate partners. Source: PAHO, UN Women. Image by Author.

Domestic Violence (DV) in Paraguay is relatively frequent in the region. Currently, there are two government-managed shelters for DV victims in Paraguay.

These women often develop physical and mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Pan American Health Organization. 2012. Violence against women in Latin America and the Caribbean.

2 World Health Organization. 2013. Global and regional estimates of violence against women: prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence

3 PAHO, 2012; UN Women. 2020. Hechos y cifras: Poner fin a la violencia contra las mujeres. UN Women

4 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. 2019. Muerte de mujeres ocasionada por su pareja o ex-pareja íntima. Observatorio de Igualdad de Género

Environmental psychology is a discipline which studies how the surrounding context impacts behavior and influences the perception we have of ourselves and the world.

This discipline can inform strategies on how to deal with issues mentioned before in a passive way through design, to create better, healthier spaces for survivors in their journey to recovery.

RESEARCH QUESTION

How can environmental psychology contribute to the design of shelters that improve the well-being of domestic violence victims in Paraguay?

OBJECTIVES

Establish a cause/effect relationship between informed design and user’s well-being in caring facilities.

Gain understanding about environmental psychology through a feminist lens.

Describe characteristics of the recovery process towards healing as a narrative approach to explain the design principles.

Propose a design that can address these issues and offer an adequate response to users’ needs.

methodology

An integrated approach combining architectural design and environmental psychology methods within a feminist framework.

Thematic analysis of literature review, with a semantic approach, to identify common themes in the recovery process for DV victims.

Architectural analysis of case studies, to identify and compare approaches and responses in different settings.

TYPE OF DATA

This dissertation seeks to contribute to the recovery from Domestic Violence through design, to create design strategies that may positively impact in the victims’ journey.

It explores the relationship between an informed design and the occupants’ well-being to produce principles applicable in architectural projects designed for this vulnerable group.

QUALITATIVE PRIMARY SECONDARY

Narrative approach to the structure of the thesis. The findings will be presented in the sequence of the recovery process, identified during the thematic analysis and applying Braun & Clarke’s reflexive approach: familiarizing with the data, identifying recurring topics, generating themes that reflect the findings and help understand the data, and contextualizing the analysis to produce an answer to the research question.

The graphic components are also an important element, as they will constitute an additional narrative device for presenting the results while adding another layer of interest.

Semi-Structured Interviews with former Vice-Ministers of the Ministry of Women to gain insight about DV in the Paraguayan context.

Image by Author.

BACKGROUND

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The UN defines DV as “a pattern of behavior […] that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner,” also referred to as domestic abuse or intimate partner violence.

When this abuse reaches the extreme, it may result in murder. The word femicide or feminicide is applied to the killing of a woman who has been victim of domestic violence, usually perpetrated by her male intimate partner.

Femicides not only brutally destroy a family nucleus but also significantly alter the normal development of the orphaned children, parents, and community, while constituting a risk of perpetuating the violence and poverty model.

Notably, during 2020 and arguably because of the COVID-19 pandemic, homicides declined in most Latin American countries (Figure 2). However, the pandemic has generated additional risks for victims of DV as they have been confined with their abusers for the most part of 2020 and going into 2021, which in many cases may result in more severe, cruel, and frequent abuse as well as a greater difficulty for victims to ask for help.

It should also be noted that murders of women are disproportionately perpetrated by their current or former intimate partner and are usually violent, vicious, or sexualized, which is seldom the case for male victims.

Image by Author.

DV can have a physical, sexual, emotional, or financial dimension, consisting of an assertion of control from the intimate partner onto the victim.

Deutsche Welle. 2020. COVID-19: ¿qué ha hecho América Latina para evitar más feminicidios? DW Akademie; María José Martínez. 2020. Quedarse en casa

10 Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 2013. Annual Report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 2012. Washington, DC: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

United Nations. What is domestic abuse? United Nations Publications. WHO. 2012. Understanding and addressing violence against women. WHO Press. Ministerio de la Mujer. 2019. Feminicidios en Paraguay en los últimos años Portal MinMujer.

Fig. 2. A compar son o Tota Homic de Rate per 00 000 nhab tan s n Sou h Amer can coun r es dur ng 20 9 and 2020. Image by Author. Source: Asmann, P. & Jones, K., 2021. Balance de InSight Crime de los homicidios en 2020. InSight Crime.

aumentó el riesgo de sufrir violencia. Pandemia Invisible.

11 Gene S. Feder, Madeleine Hutson, Jean Ramsay, Ann R Taket. 2006. Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: Expectations and Experiences When They Encounter Health Care Professionals: A Meta-analysis of Qualitative Studies Archives of Internal Medicine, 166(1), 22.

Fig. 1. Comparison of the number of femicides and orphaned children as a result during the years 2019 and 2020. Image by Author. Source: Minisitery of Women. 2021.

architecture and DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

It is relatively common for DV victims to experience physical and mental health issues because of their traumatic experience, but the design of DV shelters is not usually focused on tackling these issues.

Abusers are usually not detained immediately or for a long period of time, so one of the priorities for DV shelters is to ensure the safety of the survivors, which can often result in the victim feeling incarcerated themselves.

According to a qualitative study on perspectives of DV victims, about 35% of adolescents that accompany their mothers to DV shelters associate them with a prison. This is unsurprisingly a source of stress, as survivors usually feel a lack of control and autonomy.

The programmatic requirements for a refuge for vulnerable women include spaces that address their health and social needs, e.g. indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, therapy rooms, and private living areas for individual residents or mothers with children.

It should also be considered how a building can reduce stress in the user. Stress can be caused by one or more external conditions such as pressure, fear, significant life changes, lack of control, uncertainty, sense of unfulfillment, among others.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS IN PARAGUAY

The two government-run DV shelters in Paraguay provide temporary housing, personal security, psychological care, legal assessment, medical attention, occupational therapy, workshops about women’s rights, scholar support for children and introduction to programs for generating income.

Their specific location and other features are usually not disclosed, as confidentiality preserves the victims’ safety. Most information regarding these shelters included in this research was gathered in interviews.

interviews

These were conducted remotely, and an invitation to visit the refuge in Villa Elisa was declined given the impossibility to travel overseas.

Interviewees:

Mrs. Liliana Zayas Guggiari former Vice Minister of Protection of Women's Rights

Mrs. Mirtha Elias former Vice Minister of Technical and Administrative Affairs

Both dependent of the Ministry of Women which manages two Shelters for Women Victims of DV.

These shelters offer an integral support to women who are unable to remove the abuser from their homes and have nowhere else to go. They foster women of legal age who are victims of DV, with the exception of “girl mothers” (children victims of rape who have become pregnant), who are considered adults. They all enter voluntarily, and the permanence is not obligatory.

Women must meet certain criteria to be admitted and they usually come referred from hospitals or police stations, as well as by calling the emergency phone number.

Surprisingly, the shelters have not been filled, although they can only foster 50 people (including women and their children). This is probably due to lack of communication.

The main objective of the shelters is the reintegration of women into society with psychological and economic empowerment gained during their stay in the shelters. Since women victims of DV are usually subjugated to their partners who confine them to household chores, without the possibility of accessing education or sources of income, it is fundamental that the shelters offer integral, multidisciplinary support.

However, they do not offer medical assistance. Instead, women are derived to nearby hospitals or health centers whenever needed. They also lack accessibility, as every dormitory is on the second floor but there are no ramps or elevators.

Besides these two shelters, there are other two regional transitory centers which are for emergency only and do not offer the same psychological support as the two mentioned before.

12 Amy Chanmugam. 2011. Perspectives on U.S. domestic violence emergency shelters: What do young adolescent residents and their mothers say? Child Care in Practice, 17, 393–415

13 Samantha Donnelly, Suzanne Dean, Shohreh Razavy & Tracy Levett-Jones. 2019. Measuring the impact of an interdisciplinary learning project on nursing, architecture and landscape design students’ empathy.

14 Mind for better mental health. 2017. Stress.

In 2020, Ciudad Mujer Móvil (Women’s Mobile City) toured the country offering a variety of services, from health checks to ID renewal, only accessible for women who passed a short interview with a social worker, during which many DV cases were detected. This campaign, as well as all the Women’s Shelters, were possible thanks to funds donated by international organizations. The Government’s funds are insufficient, and they are usually reprogrammed into other projects rather than invested into the Ministry of Women, to which they have been assigned.

Fig. 3. Location of Paraguay within South America. Image by Author.

According to Law 5777, each Departmental Government should implement DV shelters under the coordination and technical support of the Ministry of Women . Only two of the 17 Departments currently follow this.

There are projects to establish new shelters in the Departments of Alto Paraná and Itapúa, which are the second and third most populated departments in the country, after Central.

SITE selection

While the department of Itapúa already has a transitory shelter for women victims of DV, Alto Paraná has no facilities destined to help them.

Its capital, Ciudad del Este is the second most populated city and the district with the most DV reports in the country. It is in the “Triple Frontier”, neighboring Brazil and Argentina, which is relevant as violence tends to be greatest near the borders, especially when bordering with Brazil.

SITE ANALYSIS

Its location makes Ciudad del Este a commercial hotspot, with many opportunities for international trade and employment.

It is located West of the Paraná River which separates Paraguay from Brazil and Argentina.

Ciudad del Este is the largest of the three neighboring cities.

Average monthly income of Alto Paraná employed uneducated population over 15 years of age

Fig. 5. Percentage of the Paraguayan population that lives in the Department of Alto Paraná. Images by Author. Source: National Institute of Statistics. 2020. Alto Paraná: Proyecciones de población por sexo y edad, 2021. Instituto Nacional de Estadística.

15 Ley 5777. 2017. De Protección Integral A Las Mujeres, Contra Toda Forma De Violencia. Decidamos, Campaña por la Expresión Ciudadana.

16 Juan Manuel Solís Delgadillo & Marcelo Moriconi Bezerra. 2018. Atlas de la Violencia en América Latina — 1a. ed. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí.

Population of Paraguay

Fig. 6. Cities in the Triple Frontier. Image by Author.

Fig. 4. Map of the population density in Paraguay, where Ciudad del Este can be seen as the second most dense urban center in the country after the capital city of Asunción.. Image by Author. Source: SEDAC.

Fig. 7. Population of Alto Paraná and average income per gender. Image by Author. Source: National Institute of Statistics. 2021. Atlas de Género. Instituto Nacional de Estadística.

The remaining areas are mainly residential. The selected area for the project is the San Lucas and Santa Ana neighborhoods, due to the services located there: parks, the Regional Hospital, a police station, and considering it is a relatively safe and calm, middle-class residential area.

REFERENCES

Commercial Areas

Residential Areas

San Lucas and Santa Ana neighborhoods

Green Areas

Bodies of water waterways

Important routes

brazil

The Microcentro is where most of the businesses and markets are located. It is strategically situated near the Puente de la Amistad.

West of the Microcentro is the warehouse district.

The specific site is two streets away from the Regional Hospital, which serves the Alto Paraná department and is the largest in the region. There is also a Police Station behind the Hospital.

These are the two most common places where victims of DV go to seek help, either to get treatment for their injuries or to denounce their abusers, and they could be derived to the shelter easily, if required.

The site is currently vacant, except for about a dozen trees on one side of the lot.

REFERENCES

Commercial Areas

Residential Areas

San Lucas and Santa Ana neighborhoods

Green Areas

Bodies of water waterways

Important routes

Fig. 8. Ciudad del Este city limits and zonification. Image by Author. Source: Google Earth Pro

Mbaracayu Park

Football court

Bus stop

Regional Hospital Police Station

Fig. 9. Location of the selected site within the San Lucas and Santa Ana neighborhoods. Images by Author. Source: Google Earth Pro, Google Maps 17 Liliana Zayas Guggiari. 2021. Interview by Fernanda Castillo [virtual medium], 28 July.

relevant design elements and strategies

shelter for victims of domestic violence

Amos Goldreich Architecture

+ Jacobs Yaniv Architects

Location: Israel

case study 1

Two facades

Exterior: protective, towards the outside Interior: Secure, towards the “heart” of the shelter

Separate the functions

Small housing units for each family. Supporting facilities in a different building to allow a sense of normalcy in the way users conduct their daily lives.

Interior courtyard

Main social area and visual connection for residents, allows women to see their children or staff to see residents.

A corridor surrounds it, creating a seamless, free-flowing area for interaction.

Supporting facilities

Variety of spaces to fulfill users’ needs: shared spaces (kindergarten, computer room, laundry, kitchen), and private areas (family residences, administrative areas).

Fig. 10. Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence, by Amos Goldreich Architecture + Jacobs Yaniv Architects. Source: Amos Goldreich Architecture.

Fig. 11. Analysis of relevant design elements and strategies in the Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence. Source for the plans and photos: Amos Goldreich Architecture.

case study 2

REFUGE FOR WOMEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

ORIGEN 19º41' 53" N Arquitectos

Location: Mexico

relevant design elements and strategies

Relationship with nature

Prioritizing user-nature relationship reduces the feeling of isolation in users.

Nature is (quite literally) at the core of the project.

Multi-functional spaces

Designing flexible spaces allows reassigning functions when needs change.

Connections and corridors

Fluid transitions and sequence of spaces enables dynamic routes for free and spontaneous encounters.

Fig. 12. Refuge for Women Victims of Domestic Violence, by Origen 19ª 41’ 53” N Arquitectos. Source: Plataforma Arquitectura.

Fig. 13. Analysis of relevant design elements and strategies in the Refuge for Women Victims of Domestic Violence, by Origen 19ª 41’ 53” N Arquitectos. Source of the plans and pictures: Plataforma Arquitectura.

design strategies

Notions of Behavioral and Environmental Psychology

Many studies link users’ behavior and the space they live in. Proximity to nature has been associated with an increase in productivity, and some studies established an undeniable preference and therapeutic quality to windows with natural views.

The ideal standards for a space vary depending on site and climate. Design strategies could help users adapt and feel comfortable in it, reducing their stress levels.

Many impactful design choices for a shelter for DV survivors relate to giving a sense of control to the victim, encouraging social support, and reducing factors (e.g. overstimulation or lack of privacy and personal space).

Autonomy and self-sufficiency are fundamental for recovery, and are key in a person’s well-being. When someone lacks a sense of personal control, their concentration levels may decrease, and they are more likely to experience physical symptoms of illnesses.

18 Vivian Loftness, Bert Hakkinen, Olaf Adan & Aino Nevalainen. 2007. Elements That Contribute to Healthy Building Design. Environmental Health Perspectives.

19 Yousef Al horr, Mohammed Arif, Martha Katafygiotou, Ahmed Mazroei, Amit Kaushik & Esam Elsarrag. 2016. Impact of indoor environmental quality on occupant well-being and comfort. International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment.

20 Dak Kopec. 2006. Environmental psychology for design Fairchild

21 Patricia Yancey Martin. 2002. Sensations, bodies, and the “spirit of place”: Aesthetics in residential organizations for the elderly. Human Relations.

Fig. 14. Comparison between different Models of Recovery from Domestic Violence. Chart by Author.

Sources: Isobel Heywood, Dana Sammut & Caroline Bradbury-Jones (2019) A qualitative exploration of ‘thrivership’ among women who have experienced domestic violence and abuse: Development of a new model, BMC Women’s Health; Paulina Flasch, Christine E. Murray, and Allison Crowe (2015) Overcoming abuse: A phenomenological investigation of the journey to recovery from past intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence; Karen Neuman Allen L & Danielle F. Wozniak (2010) The Language of Healing: Women's Voices in Healing and Recovering From Domestic Violence, Social Work in Mental Health.

overview stages of recovery

key objectives

stage 1

acknowledging

Intrapersonal processes, acknowledging and distancing from the past, letting go establishing features of a life of their own, modifying boundaries, increasing resiliency, regaining identity self-esteem, and self-worth, embracing freedom making choices, healing.

stage 2

EMPOWERING

Building autonomy, recognizing imperfect self, rediscovering themselves, finding their voice reevaluating roles and relationships, accepting, forgiving, restoring ability to trust moving beyond abuse

stage 3

reconnecting

Creating a future and new social support, building relationships, helping others as a way to embody the self and make meaning of their experiences, finding sense of purpose moving towards personal accomplishments growth.

safety attachment stress reduction

OBJECTIVEs:

ESTABLISH PRIVACY AND SAFETY

Safety is a basic need, second only to physiological needs, and privacy is important when building up individuality. It gives a sense of freedom, whereas lack of privacy and personal space may make the user feel restricted and vulnerable.

Reinforce PLACE ATTACHMENT

Tends to lower stress levels and strengthen self-esteem.

autonomy control building identity connect

REDUCE STRESS FACTORS

A comfortable space can impact our ability to feel relaxed and safe.

Quick access into an initial safe space before further checkpoints. Living spaces should be distanced from the outside, adding to the perception of security.

The feeling of being seen can make people feel uneasy and threatened. Placing “safe spaces” (e.g. bedrooms) in elevated floors, separating them from the active areas, can impact users’ wellbeing, making them feel safer and even improve their sleeping habits.

3. Balance the connection with the outside.

Distance units from neighboring buildings, preventing windows facing each other or considering the functions so that bedrooms do not face living areas.

High windows can balance the entrance of daylight while ensuring privacy.

Image by Author.

Image by Author.

1. Sequence of barriers for entering the premise.

2. Elevated residential spaces.

Reinforce PLACE ATTACHMENT | strategies

4. Design a space that feels like a home.

The concept of “home” is related to our self-definition, as it may affect the way we view our lives and ourselves. It is usually where we connect with ourselves.

Small design gestures may enhance the sense of identity the user feels, such as distinctive entryways for residential units. The use of familiar decoration style should be encouraged, such as warmer color palettes associated with “home” (as opposed to cooler tones associated with health or education facilities), or fabrics and textures in windows and furniture. Lighting might also create a homelike atmosphere and help define spaces.

5. Encourage the personalization of spaces.

This can generate a sense of ownership and belonging, and it enhances function when rearranging furniture and creating new, private areas within a room. It also gives a sense of control over their space and a feeling of freedom in making choices.

Personalization can be encouraged by providing blank surfaces such as boards, shelves, and display areas for personal items.

Image by Author.

REDUCe STRESS FACTORS | strategies

Daylight’s impact on happiness and wellbeing has been supported by several studies.

Naturally lit areas, including internal hallways, can be highly beneficial. However, privacy must not be compromised. Windows and other openings in private rooms which establish a direct visual connection with the outside must not face public areas. Adjustable shutters could also allow users to control when and how they wish to connect with the outside.

Artificial lighting used correctly can create the ideal atmosphere for privacy and relaxation in resting areas. Low temperature lighting can trigger the generation of melatonin, which is important for a good sleep.

This would keep the disruption to a minimum, as children’s louder noises may disturb other users and constitute a stress factor. If separation is not possible, acoustic insulation would help reduce the noise from permeating into other rooms, as would implementing soft, sound-absorbing elements such as fabrics (in carpets, curtains, and furniture).

7. Separate individuals from families.

Image by Author.

Image by Author.

6. Prioritize natural light and lighting design.

24 Ben Channon. 2019. Happy by design: A guide to architecture and mental wellbeing RIBA Publishing.

Channon. 2019.

8. Create a relationship with nature.

Being in contact with nature is stress reducing, improves creativity, and makes us feel at home.

Wherever possible, natural areas such as outdoor patios or play areas for children should be accessible. These should provide areas for socializing and quiet retreats. This outdoor area must not be visible to people outside the shelter.

If direct connection with natural elements is impossible, strengthening this relationship with natural views of green spaces, water, trees, or at least pictures of nature, are good alternatives to consider.

9. Use tactile materials.

Texturized materials (wood, exposed brick) draw users’ attention to their surroundings and the present moment, which is a principle of mindfulness. Fabric in furniture can also add tactile interest into a space.

10. Include calm retreat areas.

These provide an escape from the busy community life to do simple activities: read, work, meditate. Proper acoustic insulation and lighting should be considered for interior spaces, although exterior areas such as gardens and trails could also serve the purpose.

This also gives users control over the activities they wish to engage in and the environment they decide to spend their time in.

While spaces for activity and socializing are important in the recovery process, calm spaces are no less so, although they may be considered a luxury due to budget or spatial constraints.

Image by Author.

Image by Author.

11. Provide enough storage.

Accessible places for personal items can highly benefit users. It gives a sense of control of their belongings and helps keep their personal space organized. Studies show that messy homes may elevate the cortisol levels in people, which causes stress.

Storage places can be concealed or included in other equipment such as under staircases or beds. If private rooms are not large enough to accommodate enough storage, lockers in communal areas can be considered.

stage 2 EMPOWERING

OBJECTIVEs:

Reinforce the sense of autonomy

A fundamental factor in reclaiming power after abuse is to feel independent and autonomous. Shelters normally have rules to ensure the safety of the women who live there, which might also limit their sense of control over their lives, especially when this feeling was too familiar in their former house.

encourage the user to take control

Having control over the environment can reduce stress and make us feel content. It also empowers the users and allows them to make choices. 28

rediscover their identity

Image by Author.

BEDROOM AREAS THERAPY ROOM

13. Implement wayfinding tactics.

The ability to move easily from one space to another impacts on comfort and wellbeing, while disorientation and confusion can lead to stress, feelings of anxiety and negative thoughts about self-esteem and competence. Clear indications of entrance and exit points and signs or distinctive objects can make a person feel more secure in approaching or navigating a building.

Reinforce the sense of autonomy | strategies

12. Propose a logical arrangement of spaces.

A friendly layout with reasonable transitions from public to private areas directly influences the sense of privacy that users experience. The amount and length of corridors should be reduced, as they give a sense of isolation. Wide hallways with natural light are recommended: they feel pleasant, encourage movement, and give a sense of having personal space when transiting them.

Image by Author.

COMMON AREAS ENTRANCE HALL SECURITY CHECKPOINT OUTSIDE STREET

Image by Author.

encourage the user to take control | strategies

The possibility to change the space can empower and give the user a sense of contentment. Flexible spaces give control regarding the way users choose to use it, and it allows a space to be transformed to adjust to their needs. This can be encouraged by designing flexible partitions in residential units to accommodate families of different sizes, for example.

This can range from lighting and dimming controls, the ability to open windows, adjustable shading devices and room temperature, to access to secure storage facilities, or certain level of control over what and when to eat.

Image by Author.

Image by Author.

14. Design adaptable spaces.

15. Allow control of equipment.

rediscover their identity | strategies

16. Enable the exploration of hobbies.

The ability to work towards achieving goals is important in building confidence. Whether that is going back to an activity they used to do, learn a new skill, or engaging in introspective activities (e.g. meditation), it is part of the process of reclaiming the self. This can be encouraged by including activity rooms or workshops.

17. Encourage physical activity.

When we are active, we produce endorphins which positively affect our moods and help reduce stress, and we get a sense of independence and we feel connected with ourselves, which may give a clearer sense of identity.

Spaces that encourage the user to exercise are not limited to gyms, but rather spaces ready for use at any time: walking tracks, recreational parks, or even large staircases in social areas that encourage the user to engage in physical activity.

Image by Author.

Image by Author.

stage 3 reconnecting

Objective: connect with others

Two of the most common effects in DV victims is disempowerment and distancing from others. Creating new connections and relationships is fundamental in the recovery process.

connect with others | strategies

18. Encourage the presence of people.

Propose sitting areas and open plan spaces which prevent isolation. These spaces could have different functions: as activity rooms, exercise areas and workshops mentioned earlier.

Having private personal areas is encouraged but having shared facilities of regular use may help create a community life which is important in the recovery process. Communal kitchens offer opportunities to bond and motivating users to be in their kitchen may result in healthier eating habits, giving them flexibility, control, and options to choose from.

This space could also benefit users who enjoy cooking or would like to learn by providing them with a comfortable space to engage in this activity.

Kitchens should be pleasant and easy-to-use spaces, and the needs of families with small children must be considered, providing them with flexible access hours, or separate kitchenettes to prepare snacks or bottles as required.

Ecotherapy is an approach to improving mental health by participating in activities in nature. Benefits of proximity to nature have been discussed previously in this work, but additionally, engaging in activities such as gardening can make people feel more included and connected, improve self-esteem and combat depression. It also gives a sense of belonging, and taking care of plants, in the same way as caring for other living beings, produces an emotional reward in the user.

Consider integrating ponds, fountains, or pools into the project as proximity to water tends to make people happier.

Image by Author.

Image by Author.

19. Kitchens as gathering places.

20. Propose a gardening area.

KEY MOMENTS RELEVANT SPACES ACKNOWLEDGE

Arrival and initial adjustment to their temporary residence.

Establish the feeling of “home” and evidence the support available.

EMPOWER

Activities for recovery, including therapy sessions for women and children.

Security Checkpoint Reception

Staff Room Storage Rooms

Laundry Area

Individual dormitories

Family dormitories

Children’s Rooms

Resting Area Therapy Rooms

RECONNECT

Given its “temporary” nature, spaces for developing skills for an independent life must be included, as well as social areas to enhance relationship building skills.

Workshop Area Kitchen Garden

Fig. 15. Programatic Proposal and physical, visual, or proximity connections considered between spaces. Image by Author.

The trees covering part of the site will create an area for connecting with nature.

The working spaces are near the entrance to separate “public” and private areas, considering the workshops and therapy rooms could also be used by women who are not living in the shelter but still need the support it offers.

design elements and strategies

ground floor

Sequence of barries for entering

Security checkpoint, followed by a reception. Flexible outdoors, covered, and indoors spaces.

Multi-functional spaces

Pocket of calm

Small space for quiet retreat, distanced from noisy social areas.

Interior courtyard

Meeting space articulating living, social, and active blocks.

Connections and corridors

Minimized number of corridors except for exterior galleries (transition from indoors to outdoors and protection for the Northwest façade).

design elements and strategies

TOP floor

Elevated residential spaces

Bedrooms, private living rooms, and communal kitchens on top floors.

Relationship with nature

Living areas with natural views, either of the trees at the back, towards the inner courtyard, or towards vertical gardens which protect Northwest façades.

Separate individuals from families

Individual residents have calmer living areas while families are near social areas and children’s rooms.

Encourage the presence of people

Residential floors broken at the middle with a shared living area.

Kitchen as a gathering place

Domestic Violence leaves in the victim physical and mental consequences. The recovery from this abuse varies from person to person, but it could be categorized in stages for a better understanding and support throughout the journey.

The support and tools victims receive with during the process are fundamental in the recovery, and so is the space in which these come together. This project provides insight on both the process and the factors that contribute to users’ wellbeing during this period, which can be implemented through design.

The strategies can be summarized as follows:

This paper exemplifies these strategies in a design proposal in the city of Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. By considering constructive and spatial elements that positively impact on mental wellbeing, the recovery process can be more pleasant and the assimilations during this period may be integrated deeper into the women’s perception of themselves and their reality.

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Chanmugam, A. 2011. Perspectives on U.S. domestic violence emergency shelters: What do young adolescent residents and their mothers say? Child Care in Practice, 17, 393–415

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List of Figures

Comparison of the number of femicides and orphaned children as a result during the years 2019 and 2020. Source: Ministerio de la Mujer. 2021. Resumen de víctimas de feminicidio en el Paraguay. Observatorio de la Mujer. 07

Comparison of Total Homicide Rate per 100.000 inhabitants in South American countries during the years 2019 and 2020. Source: Asmann, P. and Jones, K., 2021. Balance de InSight Crime de los homicidios en 2020. [online] InSight Crime. Retrieved from: https://es.insightcrime.org/noticias/analisis/balance-insight-crime-homicidi os-2020/#:~:text=Las%20autoridades%20de%20Paraguay%20registraron,ofi ciales%20del%20Ministerio%20del%20Interior. 08

Location of Paraguay within South America. Image by Author. 09

Map of the population density in Paraguay, where Ciudad del Este can be seen as the second most dense urban center in the country. Source: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). 2000. Population Density, Paraguay 2000. SedacMaps Retrieved from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/54545503@N04/6171916797/in/album-721576

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Percentage of the Paraguayan population who live in the Department of Alto Paraná. Source: National Institute of Statistics. 2021. Alto Paraná: Proyecciones de población por sexo y edad, 2021. Asunción, Paraguay: Instituto Nacional de Estadística. 11

Cities in the Triple Frontier. Image by Author. 12

Population of Alto Paraná and average income per gender. Source: National Institute of Statistics. 2021. Atlas de Género. Asunción, Paraguay: Instituto Nacional de Estadística. 12

Ciudad del Este city limits and zonification. Source: Google Earth Pro. 13

Location of the selected site within the San Lucas and Santa Ana neighborhoods. Source: Google Earth Pro, Google Maps. 14

Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence, by Amos Goldreich Architecture + Jacobs Yaniv Architects. Source: Amos Goldreich Architecture. 15

Analysis of relevant design elements and strategies in the Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence. Source: Amos Goldreich Architecture. 16

Refuge for Women Victims of Domestic Violence, by Origen 19ª 41’ 53” N Arquitectos. Source: Plataforma Arquitectura 17

Analysis of relevant design elements and strategies in the Refuge for Women Victims of Domestic Violence, by Origen 19ª 41’ 53” N Arquitectos. Source: Plataforma Arquitectura. 18

Comparison between different Models of Recovery from Domestic Violence.

Sources: Isobel Heywood, Dana Sammut & Caroline Bradbury-Jones (2019) A qualitative exploration of ‘thrivership’ among women who have experienced domestic violence and abuse: Development of a new model, BMC Women’s Health; Paulina Flasch, Christine E. Murray, and Allison Crowe (2015) Overcoming abuse: A phenomenological investigation of the journey to recovery from past intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence; Karen Neuman Allen L & Danielle F. Wozniak (2010) The Language of Healing: Women's Voices in Healing and Recovering From Domestic Violence, Social Work in Mental Health. 20

Programatic Proposal and physical, visual, or proximity connections considered between spaces. Image by Author 44

Distribution of spaces and connections with the outdoor space. Image by Author. 45

Analysis of relevant design elements and strategies in the design proposal, Ground Floor. Image by Author. 47

Analysis of relevant design elements and strategies in the design proposal, Top Floor. Image by Author. 49

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