102 Social housing, local trade and 150 parking spaces

Barcelona, Spain

Photo © José Hevia

Drawing © SiO2 Arch

Architects: SiO2 Arch

Location: Carrer Almogàvers 107-115, 08018 Barcelona, Spain
Year: 2011

Volumetric arrangement: Three main operations of subtraction were set for all the dwellings to enjoy a minimum of 3h of direct solar radiation every day: a central void, the removal of the corner and the partial shortening of three levels at the Almogavers Street side.

Organization: The central court is the main area to access retail, cores of stairs and the public space through the freed corner. The main building is organized with 5 cores that are connected with elevated pathways in the lower levels and that become independent on the top ones organizing the different typologies of dwellings.

Chromatism: The situation of the building in the lot, in the corner of the island, and the relation that it establishes with the public space that crosses the island gives to this site a character attractive and singular.The definition of the volumes and the colors of the project are died to this urban situation and to its internal special organization.

The dwellings: Their flexibility is based on the adaptability of the housings to different uses along the time. This capacity is achieved by arranging the structure in the fixed elements of the building, and to group the services in compact cores inside every.