Conceived as a necessary extension of the domestic space, the small community plaza proposed by AYRe seeks to foster connection and social cohesion among its diverse residents. These spaces, designed for neighborly interaction, are enhanced by the incorporation of vegetation, resulting in a low-CO₂ emissions design.
Inside the apartments, the terraces serve as an initial buffer between the residents and the city, establishing a seamless transition between public and private spaces. Each unit is designed without hallways, maximizing the use of floor space and allowing for responsiveness to the evolving needs of contemporary living.
59 collaborative social rental homes by AYRe. Photograph by Gabriel Gallegos Alonso.
Project description by AYRe
A collective housing project is proposed with a strong emphasis on common spaces and areas for social interaction, both indoors and outdoors. To this end, a single, shared ground-floor entrance is created for all the building entrances and the remaining ground-floor apartments.
This common entrance will be located on Jardines de Sabatini Street. It will be an exterior passageway where bicycle parking will be located. From here, an exterior route provides access to the three building entrances and the ground-floor apartments, on one side, and an exterior promenade connects all the exterior and landscaped areas of the building at different levels, from the ground floor to the roof, as well as the coworking common areas.
This open, communal space acts as a small plaza for the community, facilitating social connection among residents and also creating a safe space from a gender perspective. Considered a necessary extension of the domestic space, the quality of this enclosed, open, and/or landscaped space has been prioritized over other purely functional considerations.
It is considered a priority not only to provide outdoor spaces, but also to ensure that these spaces extend beyond the roof and ground floor to include all floors of the building, spatially and functionally enriching the design through the diverse forms that allow for their use.
We have strived to ensure that this entire neighborhood space for social interaction has sufficient vegetation in relation to the built area compared to the carbon footprint. In this way, we guarantee the reduction of CO2 emissions.
Furthermore, a key element in the functional definition of the homes is introduced: terraces. These are configured as a first filter between the home and the city, bridging the public and private spheres, and will act as a thermal and functional buffer for the dwelling. These terraces will have double-height ceilings and will allow for the planting of mature vegetation, exceeding 4 meters in height.
The homes feature an open design that eliminates hallways to maximize the use of floor space, creating an open and flexible environment that allows for different functional adaptations depending on the intended uses.
