Oliveras Boix Arquitectes and Cati Mestre propose the design with different objectives. The first is to achieve an urban dialogue with the nearby buildings, both in height and in the materials used. The second point of attention to developing the project was to improve the ventilation and natural lighting conditions that generate the maximum spatial and functional quality of the homes.
The building was designed of two volumes of different heights separated by a longitudinal courtyard with exterior walkways through which access to the dwellings takes place, facilitating greater sunlight and cross ventilation of all spaces.
Volume 1, with a trapezoidal plan, has a height of PB+3. Each floor houses 2 houses with 2 rooms and 1 house with 1 room, 9 in total. The apartments are arranged in the form of a fan. Volume 2, with a rectangular floor plan and an elongated proportion, has a lower height, PB+2, thus solving the transition with the neighbouring building on Calle Moreres to which it is attached on its long side. It houses 2 houses with 2 rooms each.
11 public protection housing by Oliveras Boix Arquitectes + Cati Mestre. Photograph by José Hevia.
11 public protection housing by Oliveras Boix Arquitectes + Cati Mestre. Photograph by José Hevia.
Description of project by Oliveras Boix Arquitectes + Cati Mestre
Building is on the corner between Lleó XIII and Moreres streets. It is located on a trapezoidal-shaped plot, 100% buildable, with two street facades and two dividing walls. Neighboring buildings are made up of residential buildings of different heights: PB+1 in the case of Calle Moreres and PB+2 / PB+3 in the case of Lleó XIII. Corner is oriented to the north, so that the two street façades face northwest (Lleó XIII) and northeast (Moreres).
The proposal, which consists of 11 homes, 11 parking spaces and 1 commercial premises, sets 3 objectives:
- Achieve the integration of the building in its surroundings by resolving the difference in maximum regulatory height between the streets Lleó XIII (PB+3) and Moreres (PB+2).
- Achieve the best ventilation and natural lighting conditions for the homes, on a plot with a small perimeter and with its main façades facing north.
- Achieve the maximum spatial and functional quality of the homes.
Building is formalized through two volumes of different heights separated from each other by a longitudinal patio that through exterior walkways solves the access to the houses and at the same time allows them to enjoy sunlight and cross ventilation. This free strip also provides lighting and ventilation to the premises located on PB.
11 public protection housing by Oliveras Boix Arquitectes + Cati Mestre. Photograph by José Hevia.
Through the planting of vines and deciduous trees, this south-facing patio becomes a shaded and cool space in summer while in winter it receives direct sunlight, improving the interior comfort conditions of the homes in all seasons of the year and contributing to energy savings. At the same time, the patio and the walkways become a community and exchange space that expands and enriches the private space of the houses, favoring social interaction.
Volume 1, with a trapezoidal plan, has a height of PB+3. Each floor houses 2 houses with 2 rooms and 1 house with 1 room, 9 in total. The apartments are arranged in the form of a fan. Through the insertion of 2 light wells and thanks to the southeast façade, gained with the opening of the longitudinal patio, sunlight is guaranteed for all homes and the possibility of natural ventilation in all its rooms. Integrated into this volume is the core of the building's vertical communications.
Volume 2, with a rectangular floor plan and an elongated proportion, has a lower height, PB+2, thus solving the transition with the neighboring building on Calle Moreres to which it is attached on its long side. It houses 2 houses with 2 rooms each, one of them adapted. Each house has 3 facades, two short and one long facing the longitudinal courtyard. It avoids exhausting the buildable depth, thus generating a rear façade oriented to the southwest.
Regarding the composition and use of materials, the proposal connects with the language and traditional techniques of the island through the lime stucco, the sandstone factory, the ceramic pavements and the booklet blinds that, in addition to providing the required sun protection and privacy favor the appearance of colour.
