With the promising name of
“hacemos ciudad” (making a city), the Housing ministry of Spain has organized, through
the “Entidad Publica Empresarial de Suelo” (SEPES), An idea competition for the
developing of 7 housing projects within
Spain, having a total of 5,688 protected living unites. The terms of the
competition required a high quality of architecture and sustainable solutions
as much as a correct integration with the urban context and the quality of the
generated urban spaces, innovation, integration of new technologies,
preservation and improvement of the environment without neglecting the unique
needs of a protected housing project, all in order to guaranty high quality
proposals.
By definition the object of
this competition is to reach vanguard solutions for rising urban problems and the
new dwelling needs. Having done a competition the organizers stimulate new
thought and out of the box thinking. Here is a good example on the one hand, of
how a city can benefit from the competition tool reaching fresh thought and on
the other hand, how social housing projects can be used as an urban tool to
benefit the entire public as much as its particular users. The competition
sites are situated in different towns around Spain - Guadalajara, Carral
(la-coruña), Navalcarneo, Alcala de Henares (Madrid), Mieres (Asturias), Ceuta
and Uriel- requiring the use of a range of possible housing typologies
according to the different locations and situations.
Out of the 344 proposals the jury
has elected 34 winning proposals that are presented below. These proposals
offer a new thought regarding the adaptation of housing and new forms of living
as well as new construction methods.
Winners for the site in Mieres:
01. “De piedra y talla”. Architects- Maciá y Camacho
This proposal aims to create a
new space frame in a derogated neighborhood, by marking recognizable areas and
by that establishing a connection to the new city. Being sensible when coming
to treat an urban border and in creating a new central urban park. The
solutions offered for the façade are homogenous and iconographic, giving a
unified character to the buildings overlooking the park. The stone like buildings
present a dialog with the surrounding mountains. By packing the service
functions at the back of each unite, and positioning the living rooms and
sleeping rooms in the front, the flexibility level for future reorganization is
high and the traditional dichotomy of night and day spaces is challenged.
02. “Gwendolyne”. Architects-
Gimeno/Ribas and Ribas/Balaguer/Lagula.
The buildings, perceived as
tailored rocks, are designed in a way that permits the flow of vegetation and
users, creating green urban spaces that connect the new with the existing city.
These rock-blocks format a new urban dialog and integrate with the new park. A dwelling
tower, strategically positioned in front
of the park, functions as a landmark and allows, by liberating program from the
rest of the blocks, to create more green open spaces between them.
03. “Como un guante”. Architects- Temperaturas
extremas.
04. “mmm”. Architects- Solid arquitectural.
The objectives of this
proposal are from two different extremes of scale. The urban scale, where the project
offers an iconic continuous front and the domestic, defined as small buildings
integrated in the front without breaking its continuity. These fragmented
blocks allow the integration of the green spaces to the urban tram redefining
exterior and interior. One basic domestic unite is used all through the project
changing only the size of its section according to the needs of the program in
each case.
05. “Vivazz”. Architects-
Zigzag Arquitectura
The project is based on a set
geometric strips, being deformed as reaction to the surrounding landscape. The
houses or defined as the gaps between the services nuclears positioned in each strip. The façade has two
layers of cladding, having its exterior from recycled wood and its interior
from simple panels. Using prefabricated materials save energy, Using recycled
materials save waste.
06. “16 ròtulas”. Architects-
b720
This project chose to use a
generic solution as its basic models. Each model is formed from two 9x12m
unites. The way the basic models are arranged create different in- between
spaces designed to meet the surrounding landscape needs and to generate new experiences
that give place for different types of housing. Three types of prefabricated
concrete panels are used for cladding the façade having variation in the amount
and the density of their holing and defined by the need of solar and acoustic
protection. The green spaces around the block contribute to the microclimate
quality.
07. “A line made by walking”.
Architects- Pedro Queroz
A conducting string made of
free green urban spaces conform the succession of a walkable public space. Activity is generated by the relation between
this public space and the living unites. As an alternative to the typical
“manzana cerrada” (closed block), a block that encloses its patio for the use
of the city, this project offers to contribute the green semi private spaces to
the usage of the street walkers.
Winners for the site in Guatalajara:
08. “Jardin Ciudad”. Architects- Pancorbo, Martin y De
Villar.
As an alternative to the suburban
scrawl, this Project offers to return to the modern garden city, Concentrating
on the gapas rather than the objects. The proposed landscape intends to preserve
the natural characteristics of the former.
09. “La calle se a rruga”. Architects- Aybar and Mateos.
This is a vision of a city
with defuse limits and borders. The project is composed by lineal buildings
with fragmented facades and characteristic public spaces. The buildings height
lowers continuously from south-west, allowing the filtration of natural light
and generating a variety of urban spaces due to the change of the street
section.
10. “El collar de Blima”. Archtect- Juan Hevia
This proposal offers a series
of habituated polygamous unites that develop their program in a linear sequence.
These units rap their private space within them and permit a unique flow of the
public spaces around them. A lifted route connects the buildings, having the
commercial level appear at the lifted level. The unites differ in size according
to the desired program.
11. “Eaux vives”. Architects- Moneo,
Iszoro y Canals
This project offers a dual
relationship with the surrounding landscape. Proposing a variation of the typical
“manzana semi cerrada” (semi opened block) and by that creating two types of
open space, a public garden and a private one. As a contrast to the free forms
composing the buildings, the organization of the program is rigorous and has a
very clear order.
12. “Vivienda a la carta”. Architects- Arquimática.
This project offers a flexible
and reversible building, proposing a base model whose form is configured
according to its need and that includes a certain grade of personalization. The
models are arranged in a system that optimizes the orientation and the views seen
from their interior, a dwelling system that challenges the “manzana cerrada”. The
base model is a generic 4 floors volume with an attic. Each model has a clear
structure core and fixed unclears that also function as their plugin spot to the
other models.
13. “De sol y de aire”. Architects- Raúl del valle.
This Project offers housing
units that not only are flexible in the use of their spaces, but also in their
disposition within their containing volumes. These unites are organized as
lineal elements that can be bent to adapt better any particular situation. The
main material used for the facades is glass, positioned in a way that avoids
direct radiation, but allows light to filter almost any part of the dwelling.
14. “Z1879 Agua”. Architects- HSVH
arquitectura.
This proposel derives from two
requirements, the formal unity and the integration between the architecture and
its surrounding landscape. The project is read as a single volume with interruptions
that allow an entrance to the big shared green garden. The dwelling unites lie either
on a linear strip parallel to the surrounding roads or as penetrating fingers
that reach into the shared big garden. The construction method is based on prefabricated
concrete elements. The double skin facades are from corten metal and glass. The
roof is saved for sustainable use such as water heating or solar energy
deposits.
Winners for the site in La
Coruña:
15. “Una Leira”. Architects-
Padilla and Nicás
With the aim of refilling the vacant
that was caused in the forest while doing the preparations and excavations for
this new urbanization, the project offers a way to recuperate some of the
damage done. The project offers social spaces, landscape spaces and rooftops,
all wrapped with a coat of vegetation. The organization is based on a generic
unite of 6mX20m.
16. “Ele”. Architects- Meijide
and Martínez.
This project is defined as a
search for a system that maximizes the use of each individual plot. The dwellings
are based on a variety of combinations of one single model, which is positioned
in a way that generates the best views and integrates best in its surrounding.
17. “Somos el espacio que habitamos”. Architect- Raúl del Valle.
Each of the living units share
the same generic “shell”, which allows flexible and different combinations. The
design of the shell system is made to enrich each unit with its surrounding
landscape in an optimized manner. All dwellings are duplex type sharing the
same ground floor design. Second floor varies according to the program needs.
18. “Galicia viva”. Architects-
DJ arquitectura.
Giving priority to the public
use of the open space is this proposals strategy to maximize the usage of the space.
In order to increase the size of the open space each living unit is based on
the smallest plot possible.
19. “Par>aguas”. Architects-
Martín and González.
La-coruña has typically a very
wet climate, raining all year long. The project designs a living machine as
much as a rain protector machine, allowing to generate outdoor activities
regardless of the rain. The buildings offer over dimensioned roof tops each
covering a group of houses and, by that, mark the residential area.
Winners for the site in Navalcarneo:
20. “Cual piuma al vento”. Architects- Fidalgo,
Temprano,Jiménez y Monjas.
The base of the proposal
derives directly from the given urban regulations. The dwellings are set on a
strip of grouped houses sharing an identical shell.
21. “C1H2C3”. Navalcarnero.
Architects AH&
Every block consists of two base
unites. The clear structure and the usage of prefabricated materials contribute
to the low cost of the building as much as its simple flexibility and
sustainability.
22. “Cambio de escala”. Architects- Olaizola and
González.
A collective residence is
presented as a simple instrument serving the real two protagonists - the house
(home) and the public urban space. The change of scale between these two
extremes is done coherently and gradually.
23. “C.I.R.P.A.C´06”. Architects-
Arquitectos Ayala.
With an objective to achieve a
maximum of quality for each dwelling with a minimum amount of living unites for
each block, this Project proposes a flexible generic base model. The buildings
have no need of light shafts having accessible natural light penetrating all
interior spaces. A terrace is positioned on the exterior permitting cross
ventilation for each unite.
24. “BM_101”. Architects- ICA
Arquitectura.
This project proposes an open
grouping system, generating a continuous space and vision, where the residential
unites as much as the service unites, needed to form a community, are able to
integrate. This open grouping system achieves better the object to avoid a
creation of ghettos, often seen in the typical segregation of uses.
25. “Narciso estás perdido!”
Architect- Daniel Gimeno.
The organization of the living
unites derives from a spatial and sustainable criteria, having the buildings
adapt to the strong wind, characteristic of this region. The residential units
are aligned according to the sun radiation having installed a thermic façade
orientated to the south. The advantage in organizing the buildings in strips is
the flexible and diaphanous open and continuous space created, allowing a
variety of activities be inserted in the course of time. The construction
method is based on a repetitive model, using prefabricated materials.
26. “Viva Navalcarneo”.
Architects- Calderón-Folch.
A system of open spaces is
introduced to define the organization of the seven blocks. The services and the
commerce, needed to generate a community, are located on ground floor level.
Winners for the site in Alcalá
de Henares:
27. “Geometría sobre los árboles”. Architects- Picado
and De Blas.
As an alternative to the
“manzana cerrada” this project offers a sequence of towers rising above a
continuous “cloud” of trees. The structure and geometry are a result of the
relation between the units and the surrounding landscape. The floor plan of the
towers is a simple composition of three rectangular positioned at a 120º
relation. Each apartment occupies the entire floor allowing crossed ventilation
and maximum views.
Winners for the site in Utiel:
28. ”Qbt-ando”. Architect-
José Luis Gahona.
By not occupying the total
area given, a new connection in established between the site and the nearby
sport center and the city center. The south façade overlooking the city is of a
transparent double skin combining louvers and glass and are a contrast to the concrete
prefabricated panels on the northern
façade, facing the rail way.
29. “Alquimista”. Architect-
Antonio López.
The guide lines of this
proposal are to block the negative effects produced as a resolute of the
extreme closeness to the rail way, associate the dwellings with the urban nuclear
of Uriel and resolve the encounter with the existing neighbor buildings.
Winners for the site in Ceuta:
30. “The long and the winding
road”. Architects- Gimeno/Ribas and Ribas/Balaguer.
This proposal offers a simple
combination of a variety of housing prototypes that produce a flexible and
adaptable conjunction. Every apartment can configure its form in a distant way
according to its different needs. There is a grade of flexibility offered, in
which the user can configurator the façade that corresponds to his unite.
31. “Lemaloma”. Architects-
Fernández Alba and Del Pino.
The two principle conducting
factors of the design are the nearby to the sea topographical slope and the
requested housing density. The lineal stripe system adapts its scale and height
to the user’s needs and to its particular position in the landscape.
32. “16 maisons…un arbre”.
Architect- María Sisternas.
By uniting the free space that
corresponds to each unit in the requested given program, a shared space is
created. This space functions as the entrance to the housing units and by that avoiding
the use of an energy consummating elevator. The public space is defined as the
vacant created between the volumes, being orientated towards the sea. The dwelling
net like form is composed by two simple types of a basic cell.
33. “Vivienda de patró”. Architects- Fundación
Supersudaca.
This tram of tower dwellings
adapts its height to its surrounding context, and offers its users views,
illumination and regularity. The towers share a generic floor plan of 15mX15m and
a structure grid of 3mX5m that allows a numerous number of incorporation
options, maximizes the views, the ventilation and the illumination.
34. “Dekiss”. Architect- Antonio Gonzalez Liñán.
The new grid lines rearrange
the topography and permits a good integration of the building with its
surrounding landscape. A strip of plazas is designed to contain the commercial
units and activities. The different experience in each section derives more
from the users input than from the architecture setting. The typology is
generated by combinations of 3X3m models allowing all apartments to have
crossed ventilation.
