Abstract:

In Peru, more than 53% of women have experienced psychological, physical, or sexual violence, and Arequipa remains one of the regions with the highest rates. In response to this urgent context, the Reception and Temporary Shelter Center for Women in Situations of Violence in Yarabamba redefines the traditional shelter model. Rather than limiting itself to immediate protection, the project proposes an architectural environment that actively supports emotional healing, empowerment, and long term social reintegration through spatial quality and contextual sensitivity. The proposal is structured around four fundamental axes. The axis of privacy is shaped by an orthogonal grid inspired by the urban layout of Arequipa and the spatial order of the Monastery of Santa Catalina. Solid walls, framed courtyards, and controlled openings create graduated levels of intimacy, protecting users without isolating them while reinforcing dignity and safety. The axis of integration draws from Yarabamba agricultural terraces. Four platforms adapt to the thirteen meter slope, organizing the program according to degrees of privacy and minimizing impact on the land. The axis of connections reinterprets the street as a collective space of encounter, using continuous pathways and articulated courtyards as social nodes. Finally, the axis of transitions incorporates north south oriented vaults that enhance thermal comfort and spatial quality, symbolizing autonomy and renewal for women.