The Modern Movement played an unquestionable role in the renewal of architectural ideals, bringing a new attitude towards understanding ways of life, technique and aesthetics, marking profound changes in the general perception of the world. The modern movement in Argentina dates from 1930 to 1970. It includes, in many cases, original approaches associated with new modes of thought, manifesting an architecture resulting from the analysis of the local and regional conditions of its cities. In the province of Tucumán, Argentina, the architect and theorist Eduardo Sacriste (1905-1999) was a pioneer in modern bioenvironmental design. Their projects are based on their knowledge of the climates of the province, the application of bioclimatic guidelines and the definition of spaces according to the behavior guidelines of their recipients. Among his works, two hospitals stand out that today are constituted as architectural heritage: The Hospital of the Child Jesus (1948) and the Institute of Maternity and Gynecology Our Lady of Mercedes (1958). Both buildings respond to the typical architecture of the modern movement in their morphology and present bioclimatic criteria in their design. In a previous study it was determined that, from the reforms carried out for functional reasons, these buildings lost part of their original character, as well as problems with natural thermal conditioning, while retaining some of the characteristics of the modern movement and the bioclimatic properties with which they were originally projected. Currently, through global climate change, most of the strategies applied for natural thermal conditioning are still efficient. However, the thermal insulation provided by the architectural envelopes is insufficient for the climate of the region. This work proposes an energy rehabilitation of the building's envelopes to improve its thermal performance, without damaging the original aesthetics.
Learning Objectives:
Develop a strategy to improve the thermal performance of modern heritage hospitals through the building envelope without compromising the original aesthetics.
Propose constructive solutions that fit the contemporary local workforce and that do not compromise the original aesthetic.
Evaluate the original bioclimatic criteria adopted for two modern heritage hospitals today, considering climate change.
To appreciate the importance of thermal comfort and natural conditioning in buildings intended for health, in relation to current climatic conditions.
