Barajas Social Housing Block
The apartment building, located in Barajas in the group of blocks under the management of the new extension of Barajas, was generated mainly at first to catch the light, wind and outdoor life.
Based on the urban zoning for this block, the building is conceived as a game where the apartments act as blocks on top of five floor slabs creating interspersed terraces and open spaces.
The building is organized around open corridors of the old “corralas”. This condition creates interrelation between neighbors and new living spaces. The apartments have a human character which comes from its architectonic qualities and new common spaces: the hallways, terraces and central interior zone.
The facade is defined by the identity and uniqueness of each housing unit. Each was conceived as "a Box Top¨, made with only two precast concrete slabs, providing time saving, fast and easy installation. A hybrid architecture that emerges from the combination of simple pieces which create a complex result: single range of different colors and materials generated various possibilities.
Pre-fabricated elements of the facade provide an economy of construction by reducing cost and waste and strengthening the concepts of ecology and sustainability of the building.
Thermal comfort and lighting is gained through the naturally favorable orientation of the facade to the south and east, and the openings opposite the main side of the housing (providing cross ventilation). This solution saves the costs of artificial air conditioning throughout much of the year.
The public square within the block is derived from the representative elements of culture in Madrid. Derived from conceptual collage, the result is a warm and collected space. The materials remain concrete and cobble, which are softened by green areas, areas of rest and children's spaces.