Department of
Architecture and Built Environment

Ana Franchini

Domestic Violence Refuge and Rehabilitation Centre  

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, domestic violence against women has intensified worldwide. This project aims to introduce a domestic violence rehabilitation centre in Nottingham’s city centre, offering support and accommodation for women who have left their abusers.  
 
Housing a transitional community poses design challenges to create supportive and therapeutic environments that will assist the healing process. In architecture, ‘to protect from danger’ can often translate into fortification arrangements, causing suppression through the lack of connectivity and exposure to the external environment. Therefore, the refuge’s architectural design bridges this challenging line between protecting without suppressing its occupants.  
 
My project follows Unit 1C’s ethos of reimagining converting urban spaces, such as parking lots, within Nottingham’s city centre, with strong consideration to the building’s form, appropriately responding to its context. The work benefited from a design rooted in exploring spatial experiences, achieved via interviews with victims of domestic abuse and staff members from Nottingham’s refuges. 

Architecture drawing of the inside of a bedroom.
 

Ana Franchini's work

1_short_section_courtyard

1_short_section_courtyard
Uploaded
Jun 16, 2021

2_bedroom_perspective

2_bedroom_perspective
Uploaded
Jun 16, 2021

3_long_section

3_long_section
Uploaded
Jun 16, 2021

4_street_approach

4_street_approach
Uploaded
Jun 16, 2021

5_aerial_view

5_aerial_view
Uploaded
Jun 16, 2021

2_bedroom_perspective

2_bedroom_perspective
Uploaded
Jun 16, 2021
Ana Franchini
 

Student Biography

I am Ana, a year three undergraduate student from Brazil. Coming from a country whose cities struggle with the consequences of rapid and unplanned urbanization, I can bring considered and imaginative contribution to the built environment through design. My work reflects my ambitions to design more inclusive and equal cities. 

 

 

 

 

 

Department of Architecture and Built Environment

The University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD


telephone: +44 (0) 115 95 14184