1st place national architecture competition
The project is based on the premise that the implementation of the 5 social housing buildings should generate the redevelopment of the public space in block 2 of Sobradinho. The urban planning of the region is characterized by a mix of individual and collective housing typologies, a common model in the Federal District, which creates residual spaces between the semi-detached houses and building projections. Therefore, it seemed essential that the project started with the ground design.
Firstly, the grassy area connecting BR 010 highway – the main access for public transportation – to blocks B7 and B4 was paved and landscaped in the sections close to the road. Here, the design also suggests the installation of a bike path connecting the pedestrian walkway to the rest of the neighborhood. Transversely to this axis, a paved path connects the four aligned projections (block B7, A and C; block C6 A and C), promoting the use of public space between the houses and the new buildings, as well as connecting circulation to nearby facilities such as schools, churches, and sports courts.
Along this axis, each constructed building gains a square, functioning as a natural extension of the pilotis. To overcome the uneven topography, the squares were divided into sequenced plateaus that promote urban accessibility through a system of ramps – a feature that makes the project easily adaptable to the topography of the 5 lots. In blocks B7 and C6, the spaces between projections A and C were preserved, creating a more densely wooded environment. In projection B of block B4, the square takes on a communal role due to the mixed urban use, connecting the building to neighboring commercial spaces. Below, we detail the project of block A in block B7.
Considering the social nature of the housing, the project aimed to make the most of existing legislation, particularly Law 755 of 2008, regulated by Decree 29.590 of the same year. The text allows the occupation of public airspace within a strip of up to 1 meter along the perimeter of the projection as a form of compensation for internal voids, elevator halls, stairs, shafts, and lighting and ventilation prisms. This resource was used to create a generous central void in the building, with the purpose of allowing cross-ventilation in all apartments. Staircases, elevators, and access walkways to the units were placed there in a way that creates small squares, encouraging neighborly interaction. Thus, the central strip of the building becomes a local street, subtly transitioning between the public space – squares, pilotis – and the private space of the dwellings.
The norm also allows for the expansion of rooms for extended occupancy by an additional 1 meter. This resource was used to expand the living rooms and bedrooms of the units, reserving a 50cm strip for the construction of solar protection marquees that act as trays for natural light.
Constructing a popular housing building with a garage for all units is inconsistent with the purpose of the building; however, in the Federal District, the construction of one parking space per unit is mandatory. To address this issue, an underground garage was proposed, once again taking advantage of Law 755 of 2008 - which allows for the expansion of up to 155% of the projection area underground - using the topography to implant the access ramp at the lowest point of the lot.
The longitudinal void of the building divides its typical floor into two rows of apartments: one facing the access road and the other facing the square. In each row, there are 5 two-bedroom apartments (50.4m²) and 2 three-bedroom apartments (66.8m²), totaling 14 apartments per floor and a total of 84 per building. The floor plans were developed in accordance with the rules of the Minha Casa Minha Vida program, the Performance Standard (NBR 15.575), and the updated Accessibility Standard (NBR 9050/2015), using areas and dimensions above the minimums established to create more comfortable spaces, while also ensuring that they do not exceed the 68m² limit for affordable apartments. This was possible thanks to the optimization of internal circulation in the units and the integration of social and service areas (combined living room and kitchen). Thus, all units are easily adaptable for people with reduced mobility (PRM). Another positive aspect of the project is that the wet areas of the apartments are concentrated in a strip parallel to the central void, rationalizing the plumbing installations.
The approach adopted for the building prioritized thermal and lighting comfort in such a way that technical design decisions are reflected clearly in its architecture. The main facades were treated with pairs of horizontal brises with a depth of 50cm, forming light trays near the ceiling of the units. This feature increases protection against rainy winds and allows for the use of tempered glass windows, which are more cost-effective. This protection works differently when facing Northwest or Southeast, as is the case with blocks B7 and C6.
In areas facing Northwest (the façade that receives the most solar radiation), the horizontal protection ensures shading until around 4 pm on average during the summer months. In those areas facing the Southeast façade, solar radiation is blocked from around 9 am in the summer.
The project's data were previously calculated to determine its energy efficiency level according to the criteria of the RTQ-R (Technical Regulation for the Energy Efficiency Level of Residential Buildings). Data such as occupancy areas, characteristics of the materials used, ventilation and lighting capacity of windows, among others, were gathered, concluding that the project has the potential to achieve an "A" level label for all apartments.
Natural light simulations, as required by NBR 15.575 (performance standard), for a representative unit confirm the favorable situation of all environments in meeting the superior performance level in this regard. As can be seen in the simulation images, all environments showed an illuminance level above 120 lux at the geometric center at all simulated times and days.
Despite the use of traditional, low-cost materials, the façade and roof compositions meet the values of transmittance, thermal capacity, and solar absorbance, both to comply with the Performance Standard requirements and to meet the prerequisites of the RTQ-R.
In terms of natural ventilation, the composition of the central void with high pivot windows, as opposed to large windows in social areas, generates air circulation by convection, which is rare in buildings of this type. The high pivot windows in the living room also allow for permanent ventilation even on rainy days.
