For the construction of the 116-unit building, the architectural team comprised of UNIA Arquitectos and FAU Arquitectos opted for a lightweight, prefabricated and industrialized construction, resulting in considerable savings in steel in the structure and foundation. In this way, the proposal minimized the environmental impact during the construction phase, while the HVAC system adopted, the careful selection of innovative materials, and the high-performance envelope mitigated its impact throughout its useful life.
The project, comprising commercial spaces along with different types of housing that offer a harmonious balance between personal and professional life, aims to become a model for combating the current rental housing shortage, enabling low-income people to access housing with a high degree of spatial quality, both in the interior and in communal spaces.
116 Public Housing Units by UNIA Arquitectos + FAU Arquitectos. Photograph by Fernando Alda.
Project description by UNIA Arquitectos + FAU Arquitectos
The proposal aims to articulate the site constraints alongside the urban character of the development, the optimal use of buildable area, the required program, and the spatial quality of the housing units. Given the tight parameters of the program, the design seeks the best possible ratio between the usable floor area of the dwellings and the space allocated to circulation and essential common areas.
The width of the plot, the housing program, and the available buildability inevitably call for an H-shaped block with four vertical circulation cores. However, the design seeks to overcome the drawbacks of this typology through a structural bay of 9.5 meters—slightly wider than usual—and the closure of the side wings to achieve the most compact volume possible. It also avoids the compositional rigidity typical of this configuration through façades that play with transparency and movement. Opaque surfaces are combined with sliding panels made of micro-perforated steel sheet, providing solar and acoustic protection adaptable to user needs, while also creating an iconic image within the surrounding context.
The ground floor houses commercial spaces, adapted dwellings, and access passages that connect the rear garden with the stairwells and elevators. Through the substitution of four 3-bedroom units with 2-bedroom types on the first and second floors, the volume is shaped using triple-height outdoor spaces. This enhances sunlight and ventilation in the inner courtyard and reduces the built area to match the maximum allowable buildability.
The top floor completes the project with unique 2-bedroom units that include spacious private terraces.
New technologies and evolving work structures are turning the home once again into a place to reconcile personal and professional life. Therefore, it is appropriate to include a room near the entrance that can be used for work or receiving visitors. The 4-bedroom types allow for one room to be used for this purpose, as it is located adjacent to the entry vestibule.
The design of the open space aims to foster play, walking, and social interaction within a secure environment, through comfortable areas for strolling, sitting, and conversing. These features promote the creation of so-called “intermediate spaces,” semi-public areas that serve as coherent and intuitive transitions between the home and the street.
The building has been largely constructed using lightweight prefabricated and industrialized systems, which allowed for significant savings in structural steel and foundations, as well as a reduction in construction waste. The stair cores were assembled off-site and later transported and installed on-site through the lightwell.
From an energy standpoint, the homes have achieved the highest energy rating thanks to the high performance of the building envelope in terms of insulation and airtightness, as well as the selected climate system: a radiant floor system capable of both heating and cooling, powered by an aerothermal system.
The project minimizes environmental impact during the construction phase through the use of prefabrication and industrialized processes. This impact is also mitigated during the building’s life cycle through the use of innovative materials with high thermal inertia, which have helped to achieve top energy efficiency ratings. Additionally, the installation of an ultra-efficient HVAC system and the implementation of passive strategies enhance indoor living conditions and comfort.
The result is a formally abstract development that, through contrast with its surroundings, aims to become an urban landmark. The rental units will help combat the current housing shortage by offering high-quality living spaces—both private and collective—to low-income individuals and vulnerable groups.
