Located within Porto’s largest university campus, the Hoso Tower, designed by OODA Architecture, redefines student accommodation through a bold and efficient approach to design. With a total area of 9,350 square meters, the cylindrical tower addresses an urban void left by the city’s inner belt motorway, transforming a neglected space into a dynamic hub for student life.
Efficiency through form
At the heart of the project is a radical rationalism that prioritizes optimization, flexibility, and spatial efficiency. The cylindrical form minimizes circulation and structural complexity while maximizing usable area—enabling the inclusion of at least one additional room per floor. Standardized room layouts support a highly efficient prefabrication process, while open floor plans and centralized infrastructure ensure adaptability and connectivity throughout.
Constructed from prefabricated concrete elements assembled on-site, the building reduced construction time by 30%, with each floor taking just one week to complete. This streamlined process not only accelerated delivery—allowing completion in just 14 months—but also reduced environmental impact. These achievements contributed to the building's LEED Silver certification, bolstered by the use of locally sourced sustainable materials and a modular design approach.
Sustainability strategies
The tower’s prefabrication system enhances build quality and reduces construction waste, transportation needs, and overall carbon footprint. Stackable components simplified logistics while minimizing onsite disruption. The building envelope plays a crucial role in performance: its façade shields interiors from solar gain and road noise, offers privacy, and contributes to thermal comfort.
Perimeter balconies lend the façade a sense of depth and movement while extending the usable space of each unit. These balconies double as privacy buffers and offer residents places to connect with the outdoors. The interaction of light and shadow across the surface gives the tower a dynamic and ever-changing appearance.
A social vertical community
Hoso Tower doesn’t only respond to environmental and spatial challenges—it also nurtures social life. Collective spaces on the ground and top floors provide panoramic views and communal areas for study, interaction, and relaxation. These shared environments encourage a strong sense of community and transform the tower into more than just a residence—it becomes a social and academic hub.
A contemporary landmark
Set between a series of orthogonal volumes near Porto’s Boavista district, the tower stands out with its cylindrical geometry, creating a striking visual counterpoint. Its form bridges the gap between traditional urban forms and modernist aspirations, establishing a new architectural landmark within the city’s evolving landscape.
