194 Social Housing Units in Carabanchel, Madrid

About

The project was developed within the social housing program for the young promotedby the Community of Madrid. This type of rental housing establishes a strict range of 35 to 55 square meters of floor area per dwelling. Working within this range means that aspects such as compactness and efficiency in the floor plan layout are of essence. Located in the district of Carabanchel, in the southwest area of Madrid, the rental social housing development for young people addresses three demands: small units, limited budget, and energy efficiency. The plot assigned covers half an urban block in the new gridded expansion of Carabanchel. The foreseeable C-shaped volume that is so habitual in the area is transformed in this project into a more complex organization, with elements of different height and depth to generate a large interior precinct that offers a rich play of volumes and is filled with trees. Most of the apartments face south, in two blocks located at the borders of the plot and two small towers in the interior. The smaller ones are grouped in a large linear block with an east-facing gallery, perforated at three points with elevated gardens that improve ventilation in the three open interior courtyards, increasing visual contact and transparency towards the street. One last lower block goes up parallel to the previous one and wraps up the tree-lined courtyard facing the adjacent plot. The use of a simple, repeated window arrangement and the sober constructive materiality give the building a neutral and abstract character. Moving the parking garage to one side of the plot generates space for a communal courtyard with tall trees. The special occupation of the basement provides two clearly differentiated areas: on its roof, a linear paved area is a space for intensive use, while the rest is covered with permeable earthen surfaces with shrub-like plants and medium and large-size trees.

Sources

• Arquitectura Viva