Madrid Río Preventative Care Center

Traditional healthcare facilities often neglect their communities, prioritizing costefficiency over true wellness. As a result, they have become large, sprawling structures with limited access to natural light, air, and green space. In response, this thesis poses the question: How can innovative architectural solutions redefine traditional notions of health and wellness? This thesis challenges traditional healthcare design by prioritizing a user experience-driven approach. The Madrid Río Preventative Care Center takes a holistic approach, integrating wellness into all aspects of the design and program. Located along the Manzanares River in southwest Madrid, the project occupies the former Vicente Calderón Stadium site within the newly developed residential neighborhood. The center is right-sized, minimizing its footprint to maximize site area and scaled to fit within the neighborhood context. Strategically placed courtyards at multiple scales bring in natural light, improve air quality, and provide green space. The clinic incorporates an onstage/offstage model, improving efficiency and experience for both patients and staff. Through bold ideas grounded in clear architectural moves, the Madrid Rio Preventative Care Center redefines what healthcare can be—not solely an economically-driven facility, but instead an extension of the city, where wellness is embedded in everyday life.