Arranged in five longitudinal layers, the urban design interprets the requirements of the zoning plan with a dense arrangement of slender towers in an arbitrary, but also strictly rational sequence of circulation zones, volumes of usable floor area, and private outdoor spaces. These vertical layers are defined by the horizontal decks of a building system. The amount of horizonal outdoor space (loggias and balconies, access decks and roof terraces) is distributed evenly and continuously throughout the entire building structure.

Each living and work unit has privileged access to a private outdoor area that is unusually large for social housing. The transition between inside to outside on the transparent long facades of the buildings is flowing, each apartment is more than ¼  bigger than its enclosed area in plan.

With its open platform construction system that does not have load-bearing panels or external walls, the building system offers the basis for a permanent (hybrid ) functional and convertible building structure. Most of the units have a clear ceiling height of 2.80 metres or greater. The building can be used for almost every kind of standard function, up to maximum size, open spatial structures within the given thermal envelope, and also allows storeys that are completely open, if required.

Text: SMAQ

next project