Social Housing Estación de las Retamas
The economic characteristic of social housing is related to repetition. Therefore the typological and constructive system of the project is based on this principle. The project is made out of a number of pragmatic, efficient and hygienic blocks that create semi-open protected spaces that contain the 139 dwelling units. The central garden is the heart of the project, although it is open to the exterior to catch outside views.
The southeastern side of the block, due to it’s higher density, allows to create a more iconic volume that gives a very clear identity to the block. This sculptural piece is parallel to the railways with views to the historical center of Alcorcon.
A very small social dwelling is not a reduced scale of a bigger house. Its dimensions require a new typology, clearly different from the standard social house. The users, young residents, and their economic relation with the building owner, renting with buying options, determine and modify the standard criteria in social housing. Flexible housing units are designed with sliding panels, minimum circulation spaces, concentrating the maximum square meters in the living areas that have a visual connection with the kitchen units.
