Halfway house
Main component(s) of the program
The Halfway house is designed to help inmates nearing the end of their sentences prepare for their final exit from the penitentiary, regain their freedom, and reintegrate into society. We have interpreted the building’s purpose through the themes of thresholds, boundaries, transitions, the relationship between interior and exterior, and the actions they encourage among detainees.
This is reflected in the interweaving of indoor and outdoor spaces and the gradation of different types of external environments: enclosed areas provide a sense of being outside the quadrangle, in contrast to patios, which remain within the overall composition.
Site constraints
Another expression of this concept is the main circulation area, which could have been enclosed but is instead open-air and adorned with ornamental gardens, offering an alternative experience of the inside-outside relationship.
More subtly, the landscape design plays with boundaries. In the courtyards and entrance plaza, green spaces extend beyond alignments that would otherwise seem impassable, while benches straddle both vegetation and hard surfaces.
Through the use of this building, we propose a physical experience of transitioning between different environments, serving as a daily and progressive preparation for the ultimate transition through the Main Entrance Gate.
Strong idea of the project and its main variations
The architectural approach guiding the design of the hallway house is based on the principles of autonomy and accountability, which underpin the philosophy of reintegration support structures. In these facilities, inmates experience more flexible living conditions, with relative freedom of movement, while staff adopt renewed professional practices centered around the concept of the "guardian-actor."
Construction system and materials
The technical and economic equation of the penitentiary program leads to the specification of simple, robust, and standard materials: tiling, flexible flooring, suspended mineral wool panels, paint, etc. These ordinary materials require meticulous implementation, precise layouts, and delicate color choices to reveal their aesthetic quality.
In certain areas, such as on a wall, a portion of the ceiling, or a column, concrete surfaces have been left exposed, revealing their raw, unrefined texture—imperfections included—much like natural stone.
