Carles Enrich Studio decided to separate the building from the dividing wall, preserving the existing geological remains, allowing the interior façade to be set back, forming small patios inside the plot associated with the ground floor dwellings that improve the passive behaviour of the building.
Three basic housing typologies are defined, with one, two and three bedrooms, which vary depending on the pre-existing conditions. The dwellings present passive strategies typical of vernacular architecture, adapting to climate change. The openings in the opposite façades guarantee cross ventilation in all the dwellings, while the skylights in the stairs act as solar collectors and heat dissipators.
The project uses standardised construction solutions, such as wooden slabs, facilitating the construction of the building. Low environmental impact and highly durable materials are selected, such as lime plaster on the façades, which guarantees waterproofing of the joints, as well as minimising overheating of the envelope thanks to its white colour.
11 Social Housing in Palma by Carles Enrich Studio. Photograph by Adrià Goula.
Project description by Carles Enrich Studio
Implementation Strategy
The project is situated on a narrow corner plot, formerly occupied by a marés stone quarry, at the intersection of Rut Street and Darwin Street in the El Coll d'en Rabassa neighborhood, on the outskirts of Palma. Aiming to consolidate the irregular urban fabric and address the climate emergency, the proposal consists of eleven dwellings that seamlessly integrate with the site by adapting to its pre-existing conditions.
The decision to set the building back from the party wall and preserve the existing geological remains defines a dual-form strategy: on one hand, the exterior facades present a regular, compact volume oriented towards the southeast, while on the other, the inner facade is recessed, avoiding the maximum allowable occupation. This volumetric approach enhances the building’s passive performance by generating shaded areas and variable-depth courtyards, providing a range of outdoor spaces for the dwellings.
Ground-floor residences feature courtyards with permeable paving, while first-floor units benefit from private terraces. The housing units are designed following a non-hierarchical spatial concept that eliminates circulation areas, thereby maximizing usable space. Three basic typologies (one, two, and three-bedroom units) have been established, each adapted to the site’s constraints. Versatility and convertibility are key design principles, allowing most spaces to serve interchangeable functions, except for kitchens, which are positioned adjacent to bathrooms to minimize the length of service installations.
Climate Change Adaptation
The dwellings are designed to adapt to climate change through passive strategies inspired by vernacular architecture. Cross-ventilation is ensured in all rooms through openings on opposite facades and skylights over staircases, which function as both solar collectors and heat dissipators. The volumetric setback on the west facade provides shading for the most exposed orientation.
Draining gardens at the ground level and the use of native, low-water-demand vegetation contribute to lowering ambient temperatures. Additionally, rainwater is collected and stored in a tank for irrigation. The placement of openings and the shallow depth of interior spaces significantly reduce the need for artificial lighting while optimizing solar gain management throughout the year.
The facade is finished with a lime-based plaster (jabelga), ensuring waterproofing and joint sealing. Its white color, combined with projecting facade elements, minimizes envelope overheating. Finally, an underground gallery runs through the central part of the building, facilitating maintenance of the installations while acting as a passive cooling system that supplies tempered air to the dwellings. This combination of strategies reduces the building’s overall energy demand, eliminating the need for artificial climate control systems, except for ceiling fans that assist natural convective cooling.
Economic Efficiency
The project promotes the standardization of construction solutions and dimensions, streamlining the building process through the prefabrication of certain elements, such as wooden slabs. Material selection prioritizes proximity, durability, cost efficiency, and low environmental impact.
The structure consists of load-bearing walls made of local ceramic blocks (H20), arranged in a modular 10 sqm grid, with technical cores housing staircases, bathrooms, and solar chimneys. The masonry features vertical perforations filled with excavated soil to enhance thermal inertia and acoustic insulation between party walls. Prefabricated slabs rest on a laminated timber perimeter beam, which resolves lintels for both interior openings and facade apertures, allowing for dry disassembly and future recycling of all horizontal partitions. A 5 cm compression layer and polished concrete flooring complete the slabs, ensuring acoustic insulation between floors.
Each dwelling has direct street access, transforming the building into a series of terraced houses, thereby eliminating the need for elevators and promoting an efficient and sustainable housing model.
