Cases dels Mestres Collective Housing by Zaga arquitectura + Som Habitat

Located in La Floresta, Spain, at the edge of the wooded landscape of Parc de Collserola, the Cases dels Mestres Collective Housing project represents a careful balance between architectural rehabilitation, social commitment, and environmental responsibility. Designed by Zaga arquitectura in collaboration with Som Habitat, the project transforms a former teachers’ housing complex into a contemporary model of cooperative social housing, reinforcing both collective memory and community life.

Originally built in 1969, the building—popularly known as Les Cases dels Mestres—was conceived as low-cost housing for educators working at the adjacent La Floresta School. Its architecture reflected the pragmatic ideals of the time: restrained volumetry, rational construction, short structural spans, and economical materials. Over the decades, the dwellings lost their original function and fell into disuse, yet they remained deeply rooted in the collective memory of the neighborhood. Driven by a strong local initiative, the rehabilitation project reactivates this forgotten structure, giving it a renewed social purpose while preserving its architectural identity.

The refurbishment strategy is based on adaptive reuse and architectural addition, introducing two new bays along the building’s longitudinal façades. These extensions do not overshadow the original structure; instead, they engage in a respectful dialogue, enhancing its spatial, functional, and environmental performance. The intervention addresses critical shortcomings of the existing building, including accessibility, dwelling size, spatial flexibility, and energy efficiency, while maintaining the sober character of the original construction.

The eastern façade functions as the primary point of access, where a sequence of walkways, terraces, and staircases responds to the site’s steep topography. These circulation elements act as semi-private outdoor spaces, encouraging informal encounters and communal living while offering framed views of the surrounding natural environment. More than simple access routes, they become social thresholds that mediate between private dwellings and the collective realm.

On the western side, a more private bay expands the usable floor area and vertical dimensions of the homes, allowing the development of 11 housing units and a shared communal space. Here, the architecture adapts to the descending slope, opening generous windows toward the landscape and establishing a stronger visual and spatial relationship with nature. This façade embraces the terrain, allowing the building to “spill” downhill and creating interiors that feel open, light-filled, and closely connected to their environment.

At the core of the project lies a strong commitment to participation and inclusion. The conventional design process was redefined through a collaborative approach in which future residents actively shaped their homes. Through a series of workshops, inhabitants evaluated and selected different spatial layouts, ensuring adaptability to diverse family structures and evolving living needs. This participatory methodology reinforced the cooperative ethos and resulted in highly flexible, user-centered dwellings.

The project also integrates a self-build strategy, inviting residents to take part in selected interior refurbishment tasks through guided training workshops. This approach reduced construction costs while strengthening the emotional bond between inhabitants and their homes, fostering a sense of ownership, responsibility, and collective identity.

Sustainability is another defining pillar of the intervention. The building was designed to achieve a low carbon footprint through the use of local, non-polluting materials and a prefabricated timber-frame construction system. High-performance thermal insulation, energy-efficient façades and roofs, and collective systems—such as a central pellet boiler and greywater and rainwater recovery—significantly improve environmental performance while reducing long-term operational costs.

Beyond physical renewal, the project plays a vital role in preserving collective memory. By rehabilitating a structure that once served the community, the intervention reinforces social cohesion and continuity, proving that architectural refurbishment can be both culturally meaningful and environmentally responsible.

Finally, the design prioritizes well-being and contact with nature, leveraging the site’s exceptional location. A careful balance between private and shared spaces allows residents to enjoy both community interaction and personal retreat, all within direct visual and physical proximity to the surrounding forest landscape.

All photographs are works of Milena Villalba