In Málaga, Oceanika rethinks residential living as a dense but porous landscape of timber, terraces and shared spaces. Designed by EovaStudio and Bakpak Architects, the 180-unit development occupies the site of a former hotel, its five-storey volumes shifting and stepping around a series of planted courtyards. Built largely from prefab modules and CLT, the project combines industrialised construction with a more climate-responsive approach to collective living: open-air circulation, shaded terraces, Mediterranean planting and spaces oriented towards the sun and sea breeze. 

Context

Located on the site of a former hotel, Oceanika transforms a previously disconnected site surrounded by infrastructure—a national road, commuter railway, petrol station and commercial access routes—into a cohesive landscape. The architects responded to this challenging context with what they describe as “openness rather than enclosure." The development is organised as a series of interconnected volumes arranged around landscaped courtyards and open spaces. Their orientation maximises natural light, ventilation and views towards the Mediterranean Sea and the Sierra de Mijas.

Design

The design repeats a single residential module of 6 x 8 metres arranged in different locations across the site. These modules are connected by an elevated system of landscaped walkways that act as the social spine and circulatory system of the project. Within each module, apartments follow the same structural logic while offering different relationships to the outdoors, with generous corner terraces, diagonal views and a combination of fixed and sliding screens that balance privacy with openness.

Program

The network of homes is supported by a generous program of shared facilities. At the main entrance level: reception, coworking spaces, meeting rooms and flexible work areas establish a working hub, while a central two-storey pavilion brings together the communal kitchen and dining area, gym, lounge and laundry. Together, these spaces shift the project away from the conventional apartment block towards a more collective model of living.

CLT construction

The project’s modular construction system is based on prefabricated CLT panels, allowing the more than 15,000-square-metre complex to be assembled in just 15 months while reducing the energy and carbon associated with construction. Replacing much of the concrete structure with engineered timber also lowered the building’s embodied impact while bringing the efficiencies of off-site fabrication to a project of considerable scale. This process reduced construction waste by 50% and shortened the construction period, cutting energy consumption and emissions associated with transport and machinery.

Envelope

The timber structure is complemented by a façade strategy that combines high-performance envelope design with solar control. Fixed and sliding timber screens filter the sun, limiting overheating during the summer while allowing daylight into the apartments and providing privacy without closing them off from the outdoors. Their practical function is inseparable from their architectural expression: layered across the façades, the screens give the building depth and a changing appearance throughout the day.

Sustainability

The project began with a target of near-zero operational energy consumption alongside a significant reduction in embodied carbon. Rather than relying solely on technical systems, the architects embedded passive strategies into the building’s orientation, form and relationship with the outdoors. Solar protection, natural ventilation and generous external spaces help moderate the climate, reducing the need for mechanical cooling while allowing residents to live more closely with the surrounding environment. The building also incorporates aerothermal heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, LED lighting and a high-performance thermal envelope.

Carbon stores

The timber structure stores a substantial quantity of carbon: Oceanika incorporates around 3,500 cubic metres of PEFC-certified timber, retaining approximately 3,500 tonnes of CO2 within the structure. The project’s environmental strategy extends beyond energy and materials. Native Mediterranean planting, including lavender, rosemary and grasses, reduces irrigation requirements, while rainwater harvesting and reuse and permeable paving support water efficiency and groundwater recharge. Insect hotels and shelters incorporated into the landscape create habitats for insects and pollinating birds, while the planted courtyards help mitigate the urban heat-island effect.