Celosia Residence
In Madrid-Sanchinarro the first residents
received the keys to their apartments in the just completed Celosia
building. Jacob van Rijs of MVRDV and Blanca Lleó have completed the
social housing block near the Mirador Building, which is an earlier
collaboration. The perforated block of Celosia assembles 146
apartments, communal outside areas throughout the building, and
parking and commercial program in the plinth. The total floor area is
21,550m2. With a construction cost of 12,6 million Euro the apartments
can be sold for affordable prizes. The city block is opened and allows
wind and light to enter the building, offering vistas and outside
spaces contrasting the surrounding area. The client is EMVS, the
public housing corporation of the city of Madrid
The given volume of the city block was divided into 30 small blocks of
apartments. These blocks are positioned in a checkerboard pattern next
to and on top of each other, leaving wide openings for communal patios
throughout the building. 146 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments
are all accessed via these communal spaces. Most apartments offer
additional private outdoor space in the shape of a loggia right behind
the front door. Inhabitants have the possibility to gather in the
communal high-rise patios which offer views towards the city and the
mountains and provide natural ventilation in summer. Opening the front
doors connects the private outdoor areas to the communal area.
The façade is made of coated concrete which was from the ground floor
up constructed in complete mould system, an efficient and clean way to
cast concrete, keeping the construction cost to a minimum; an
important asset for this social housing project. The polyurethane
coating allows the façade to shimmer and reflect depending on the
light condition.
All windows are floor to ceiling height and can be shielded from the
sun. Each apartment has the possibility of cross ventilation through
two or three facades and enjoys views through the building and to the
surrounding. A system of power efficient boilers is used in the
building; solar panels on the roof heat water reducing energy
consumption further.
Underneath the building a parking garage on two levels provides 165
parking spaces. The ground floor offers room for 6 individual retail
units.
The nearby Mirador building which was completed by MVRDV and Blanca
Lleó in 2005 also discusses the traditional building block by putting
it vertical. The Celosia building is horizontally arranged around the
interior court but opposes the generic introverted architecture in the
area by bringing light and communal space into the building allowing a
perhaps more extraverted Spanish lifestyle as every apartment opens up
to a small plaza.
#socialhousing
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