Young and old have one thing in common: they are defined by their relationship with time. People’s relationship with time is ephemeral and fleeting. The architecture we propose seeks to improve conditions so that all inhabitants, with varying degrees of dependence on others and on a comfortable and pleasant environment, find themselves in the best possible conditions for time and space to merge into a single point, a Place where the world works better.
Time and Permanence
The proposed architecture aims to be timeless and, beyond its relationship with the present time (trends or fashions), it seeks to evoke the concept of permanence to appear as a serene, restrained, and ageless architecture.
Starting from an already established urban model, we propose a rational, flexible Project that is adaptable to the required social and urban planning conditions. The complex adapts to the volumetry proposed by the planning, generating two interlocking and carved objects that release space in their interior through courtyards and terraces, and that adapt to the different regulatory heights. Likewise, the complex appropriates a piece of the landscape, generating interior green spaces and relating the buildings and their circulations to these areas to provide inhabitants with their own garden-space. The building adapts to the path of the camí d’en Guixò, allowing its passage by freeing up the ground floor and generating a landscaped space that recovers the essence of the original path.
2 Courtyards and 3 Gardens
The configuration of the building allows for the generation of two large courtyards related to the common uses of the ground floor. The North courtyard, close to the entrance, and the South courtyard, related to the common rooms. Likewise, two gardens are arranged on the ground floor: the East garden, open to the exterior and through which the building is accessed, and the West garden, where a children’s play area is located. The volumetry of the building is also used to provide a garden on the roof of the North building, generating an outdoor seating and walking area that is isolated and supervised. The courtyards and gardens function as outdoor walking and seating areas (with covered circulation zones), and feature native trees and vegetation to generate shaded and pleasant green spaces.
Orientation
Efforts have been made to optimize the positioning of the rooms so that most enjoy pleasant orientations at different times of the year. In this way, the predominant orientation of the rooms is East – West, integrated into the 20-bed modules that connect to a central block of common areas.
Circulations and Common Spaces
The complex is organized with clear and rational circulations, featuring a central area that brings together circulations and common spaces. From the main central access, distribution leads to two vertical cores that provide access to the two buildings where the dwellings are located. On each floor, there is a central distribution corridor that varies in width to improve circulation and is illuminated through the interior courtyards. In the room modules, circulations have been minimized and optimized to prioritize common spaces and shorten distances. Alternative evacuation routes are always provided, with waiting areas and stairs to the outside.
Functional Program
We construct the buildings based on a base module that adapts to the size of the housing units. The buildings include 120 places distributed in six independent modules based on the same model. This typology is based on a rational model generated by 3.30m modules. Furthermore, a deep and occupable facade is proposed, whose function is to allow the arrangement of closets, tables, etc., while controlling solar incidence inside the rooms. The courtyards aim to provide the rooms with a spatial quality that also ensures better management and utilization of the climatic conditions characteristic of the area. Likewise, the terraces are configured as an extension of the building’s interior spaces, generating a climatic gallery that can adapt to different annual climates.
The ground floor is arranged as a plinth that organizes communal spaces around the exterior courtyards and gardens. Four areas are differentiated which, although interconnected, can function independently: Management, administration, and staff area; specific services area; general services and dining area; and lounge and living rooms.
