Vivas Arquitectos' proposal organizes the homes around interior courtyards with exterior walkways, a layout that facilitates cross-ventilation and contributes to a significant improvement in climate comfort. This typological configuration, in addition to optimising energy efficiency, lays the foundation for community interaction and social cohesion among its occupants.
Compressed earth blocks (CEBs) stand out for their high thermal inertia, which maintains stable interior temperatures and reduces energy consumption. Structurally, they offer excellent compressive strength, enabling the construction of durable, low-maintenance load-bearing walls. Their insulating capacity improves comfort and reduces the need for other materials. Furthermore, they are fire and pest-free. In Mallorca, their use revives local building traditions and the use of native resources.
30+8 social housing units by Vivas Arquitectos. Photography by José Hevia.
Project description by Vivas Arquitectos.
The 30+8 social housing project on Josep Togores Street in Palma de Mallorca, designed by Vivas Arquitectos, responds to the need for affordable housing from a sustainable perspective rooted in the area. With a total of 38 units, distributed across two buildings, the complex combines innovation and tradition through the use of locally produced compressed earth blocks (CEBs) and wooden slabs, reducing the carbon footprint and reinforcing the island's construction identity.
Organized around interior courtyards and exterior walkways, the homes promote community interaction, cross-ventilation, and climate comfort. Their compact, bioclimatic design optimizes the use of space and enhances everyday life, reconciling energy efficiency, sustainability, and social cohesion in a single living model.
Land Use and Transformation
The site is located north of Palma, in a heterogeneous area that has been urbanized in several phases. Current land use is dominated by low-density housing and agricultural areas. The structural solution is inspired by the traditional approach, in which the building's structure itself houses and delimits the living spaces, integrating the functions of load and space.
The project focuses on two fundamental aspects: proper integration into the urban and physical environment, and a functional solution consistent with the program's needs. The main building is located on an L-shaped corner plot with a buildable depth of 11.5 m. It consists of a ground floor and four upper floors for residential use, while the basement and part of the ground floor are used for parking with 30 spaces. A second building, located on a rectangular plot, has a ground floor and first floor for eight residential units.
Community Transition
Access to the homes is through a vestibule that leads to an interior courtyard, from where the units are distributed via porched walkways. This scheme reinforces the neighborly relationship and establishes a gradient of privacy that runs from the communal to the private space. The one- or two-bedroom homes have dual orientation and an optimized layout without hallways, with a central kitchen visually connected to the living room. A multifunctional gallery to the southwest guarantees privacy and improves thermal comfort, acting as a solar collector in winter and facilitating cross-ventilation in summer.
Efficient Construction and Operation
The structure combines wooden floors and load-bearing walls made of compressed earth blocks (CEBs). CEBs are a sustainable and efficient solution that brings multiple benefits to the project. From an environmental perspective, their production at km0 in Mallorca reduces CO2 emissions associated with transportation and boosts the local economy. Furthermore, since they do not require high-temperature firing, they reduce energy consumption and the carbon footprint. Their porous nature allows the walls to breathe, improving indoor air quality and preventing condensation.
In terms of energy efficiency, CEBs stand out for their high thermal inertia, gradually absorbing and releasing heat to maintain a stable temperature inside the home. This reduces the need for artificial air conditioning and contributes to significant energy savings. Its insulating capacity also minimizes acoustic and thermal transmission, increasing user comfort, reducing the need for additional insulating materials, and lowering the buildings' energy consumption.
From a structural perspective, BTC offers high compressive strength, allowing for the construction of durable, low-maintenance load-bearing walls. It is a material that does not degrade easily and is highly resistant to fire and pests, thus improving the building's safety and lifespan. Its combination with the prefabricated timber floor system allows for rapid, balanced, adaptable, and sustainable construction.
Aesthetic Qualities and Cultural Integration
The use of BTC blocks in Mallorca continues the island's construction traditions, such as those seen in traditional houses and other similar techniques, including sandstone construction, in which local materials were used to adapt buildings to the Mediterranean climate. In these traditional methods, the structure itself typically defined the living spaces, integrating the material with the environment.
In the context of the climate crisis, earth, as an indigenous material, is a sustainable option that reduces the carbon footprint while utilizing local resources. This approach not only preserves Mallorca's cultural identity but also addresses environmental challenges, fostering a responsible connection between people and their land.
