Project description by MIAS Architects + Coll-Leclerc Arquitectos
The Marina del Prat Vermell represents a historic zone of textile colonies founded in the mid-1800s south of Montjuic in Barcelona, adjacent to the sea. The meadows were utilized for dyeing and drying fabrics, bestowing the area its moniker: "Marina del Prat Vermell," signifying the Red Meadow Marina.
The distinctive triangular parcel outlined by the streets Ulldecona - Cal Cisó - Pontils presented a unique challenge. Our strategy aimed to preserve the triangle's structural integrity while maintaining the clarity and typological rationality of the orthogonal internal arrangement of residences. The three corners of the plot remain closed, devoid of chamfers or simplifications.
To accommodate a considerable number of social housing units, each comprising two rooms and ensuring optimal conditions for ventilation, solar exposure, typology, and views, we segmented the triangle with two courtyards and two passages aligned precisely from north to south, resulting in five volumes. Distinct dwellings are situated in the eastern and western corners. Instead of opting for an interior triangular block courtyard, deemed too cramped and conducive to an excess of north-facing dwellings, we proposed blocks of four corner residences, adhering to the solar exposure regulations between 10 am and 2 pm.
72 Social Housing at the Marina del Prat Vermell by MIAS Architects and Coll-Leclerc. Photograph by Adrià Goula.
The perception of the complex varies depending on the vantage point. From the east and west corners, it appears as a unified block with crevices, whereas from the south facade, five volumes are apparent, enabling sunlight to filter through the passages at noon, preventing a continuous 92-meter facade and presenting a seamless yet delicate volume. The materialization or dematerialization of the block fluctuates based on the observer's position.
In essence, the structure embodies both compactness and porosity. Compactness is achieved through the geometric constraints of the triangle, while porosity is attained through a streamlined volume, segmented into equivalent blocks, with each floor accommodating twelve residences, all featuring a corner layout. Consequently, every unit enjoys dual-orientation, ventilation, and complete solar exposure.
Sustainability
The selection of materials strives to reduce the building's carbon footprint by utilizing lighter components and sidestepping excavation in contaminated industrial soils. We have embraced industrialization and prefabrication.
72 Social Housing at the Marina del Prat Vermell by MIAS Architects and Coll-Leclerc. Photograph by Adrià Goula.
The facades exhibit alternating vertical strips of glass and ribbed GRC (fiber-reinforced concrete), colored in red, 17 mm thick, reminiscent of folds in drying fabrics on the meadow. Positioned within 120 mm metal frames, they are insulated on the inner face for low thermal transmittance: 0.24 W/m² K. The corners are open, featuring broad terraces following the envelope's geometry, protected by Gradhermetic louvers.
The reinforced concrete structure employs a Bubble-Deck system, reducing floor slab weight by 35% and facilitating cantilevers to conform to the site's unique geometry. The Bubble-Deck comprises cylindrical bodies of recycled PVC, reducing weight and carbon footprint.
The configuration of the project, with apertures optimized for solar gain in winter and providing solar shading and cross ventilation in summer on all levels, results in a low total energy consumption of 8.76 kWh/m² per year, with an A Rating and adherence to Passivhaus standards, demanding minimal heating and cooling.
The underground biomass network by Ecoenergies liberates the roof space for a shared solar photovoltaic production plant, featuring 89 modules generating 37.8kWp, covering 51% of consumption.
Greenery is integrated on remaining roofs, and flowerbeds line the access passages with red flowering species to promote biodiversity and alleviate the heat island effect. Additionally, bike racks are installed in these passages to encourage alternative mobility.
Jaime COLL LÓPEZ (Palma de Mallorca 1964), Diploma in Architecture (Barcelona School of Architecture –ETSAB 1989), Ph. D. and Extraordinary Prize for dissertation (1994), Fulbright Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Columbia University (1994-96). Architectural Design Professor at the ETSAB since 1997.
Judith LECLERC, (Montreal, Canada 1967), B.Arch. McGill University (1992), Architect (Barcelona School of Architecture - ETSAB 2002). Associate Architectural Design Professor at the Barcelona School of Architecture – ETSAB since 2010 and Esarq/UIC (2002-07). Guest professor at the Montreal University (Canadá, 2010) and Aarhus (Danmark 1997). Member of Europan 10 Competiton Jury.
Founded COLL- LECLERC in 1993 with provisional locations in Paris (1993) and New York (1994-96). In 1997 they won the first prize in the national competition for the Music and Dance Conservatory ant Theater School in Palma, and the Sant Just Sport Center which brings them to establish permanently their practice in Barcelona. Since then they have been awarded First prizes in the following competitions: the Sant Just Sport Complex (FAD award finalist 2002), Montilivi Health Centre (8th Spanish Architectural Biennals finalist 2005), 2004 Forum Housing, TMB Parc atop a Bus depot, the Londres-Villaroel facility complex, a hibrid complex in Downtown Barcelona and the Redesign of Plaça Urquinaona in Barcelona.
They have taught and lectured throughout Spain and at the London Architectural Association, Aarhus, Frankfurt, Phoenix, Sao Paulo, Graz, China and Mexico. They have been selected for the young architects Cycle “Nombres” in the Arquerias de los Nuevos Ministerios in Madrid (1999), for the 8th and 11thVenice Bienal (2002, 2008), for the 8th and 9th Spanish Architectural Biennals (2005, 2007), for the exhibition on New Catalan Architecture at the DAM Museum in Frankfurt "Patent Constructions" (2007) and the Stockholm Arkiteckturmuseet (2008) and at Cité de l’architecture et du Patrimoine Paris “Contemporary Catalan architecture” (2009).
In 2007 COLL-LECLERC has been awarded with the City of Barcelona Architectural Award, 9th Spanish Architectural Biennal Award and National Award for Public Housing and they are one of 100 international architects specifically recommended by Herzog&De Meuron - FAKE Design to come to China and design one of 100 villas in a newly emerging residential district in Ordos (Inner Mongolia). In 2010, their Housing project in Lerida has been awarded with the AVS prize for best Public Housing in Catalunya.
Since 2010, Jaime Coll is member of the Madrid urban quality commission and is subdirector of the design department at the ETSAB.
Josep Miàs, Architect COAC/ARB. 1992_ETSAB_UPC, Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Barcelona_Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.
From 1990 till 2000 he worked as Associated Architect with Enric Miralles, developing the following projects Círculo de Lectores in Madrid, Sports Hall in Huesca, Centro de Alto Rendimiento in Alicante, Library in Palafolls, Parc dels Colors in Mollet del Vallès, Cemetery in Igualada, Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, DiagonalMarPark, Santa Caterina Market and GasNaturalBuilding in Barcelona. In 2000, Josep Miàs founded his own studio.
Among won architectural competitions, these are the most important first prizes: Girona Central Park Station, Banyoles Old City Refurbishment, Barceloneta Market, Rubí Market, Golf Fontanals de Cerdanya Clubhouse, Tibidabo Funicular Station and Herta Frankel Puppet Theatre in Barcelona, Girona Annexa-Puigbert Primary School, Plug-in Building 22@ in Barcelona, Torrebaró Apartment Building in Barcelona, San Bernardo Apartment Building in Madrid, Dakar Music Recording Centre and Village in Senegal, Palafolls Pedestrian Bridge, Miño Sil Water Confederation Headquarters in Ourense, Arenys Mental Health Centre and iGuzzini Barcelona Corporate Building.
Josep Miàs’ works have won several awards, some of them are: AJAC Best Young Architect Award 2004 for Golf Fontanals de Cerdanya, Special Mention Girona Architecture Award 2005 for Mollet single house, First Prize Girona Architecture Award 2007 for Banyoles Old City Refurbishment, City of Barcelona Architecture and Urbanism Award 2007 for Barceloneta Market, Catalonia Construction Award 2009 for Banyoles Old City Refurbishment, Architecture Aplus Award 2011 Best Educational Building in Spain for Annexa-Puigbert Primary School, Building of the Year 2011 Archdaily Award_Winner World Best Building of the Year, and WAF World Architecture Festival 2012 Shorlisted World Best Building of the Year both for iGuzzini Barcelona Corporate Building.
From 1992, he has developed teaching activities in Architecture Schools in Europe, America and USA: Design Department Professor at Barcelona School of Architecture ETSAB_UPC Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Design Department Professor at School of Architecture La Salle BCN, Director of the Design Department and Deputy Director at School of Architecture ESARQ_UIC_Universitat Internacional de Catalunya and Professor in UCL University College London_The Bartlett School of Architecture,UNISS Università di Sassari_Facoltà d’Architettura Alghero, Frankfurt Stadelschule and USA Harvard Graduate School of Design GSD.
He has been invited to read lectures and head up workshops in a large number of universities in Spain, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, United States, Mexico, Uruguay, Brazil, Singapore and Panama among others.
His work, as well as his writings, have been published in international magazines and books, and his buildings have been exhibited in many exhibition halls as COAC_Barcelona, Arquería Nuevos Ministerios_Madrid, Cité de l’Architecture_Paris, Stadelschule_Frankfurt, Architektur Forum_Zurich, TU University_Berlin,House of the Architect_Kiev, Bartlett School of Architecture_London, 2012 Biennale di Venezia, and WAF 2012 Singapore.
Currently, he is Associate Professor at the Barcelona School of Architecture ETSAB_UPC Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya_Barcelona, Visiting Professor in UNISS Università di Sassari_Facoltà d’Architettura Alghero andTeaching Fellow in UCL University College London_The Bartlett School of Architecture.
