MARMOLBRAVO and MADHEL's groundbreaking partnership creates 100 stunning social housing units in Madrid's iconic LASCALA!

LaScalA's Social Housing Units: Reducing Scale and Improving Interior Quality

LaScalA, an innovative architecture firm, has proposed a unique solution for social housing units that focuses on reducing the perceived scale of the building while improving the quality of the interior living spaces. The project, located in an urban area, aims to adapt to the surroundings and provide a comfortable and sustainable living environment for residents.

One of the key features of the project is the reduction of the building's height and the fragmentation of volumes to create a more dynamic and visually appealing structure. This approach not only improves the building's aesthetic appeal but also enhances the sunlight condition and ventilation of the dwellings.

LaScalA's design incorporates a meandering floor plan that is articulated by three open courtyards and staggered openings in the facade. This approach significantly reduces the perceived scale of the building while maintaining a strong architectural presence. Additionally, the upper floors are recessed and feature a change of color, further contributing to the reduction of the perceived scale.

The building has a single vertical communication core, and all the dwellings have cross or corner ventilation to the open courtyards. The distributors to the dwellings are viewed as an extension of the public space of the plot, creating a naturally ventilated and illuminated place for social interactions. These spaces have been optimized in terms of surface area without sacrificing architectural quality.

The twisting floor plan with three open courtyards allows the project to concentrate more building space on the first four floors and gradually release the volume on the upper floors. This approach makes it possible to use the roofs as an outdoor space for the dwellings, resulting in a large number of penthouse dwellings.

LaScalA's social housing units have been designed under the concepts of continuity and spatial amplitude. The project incorporates passive energy efficiency strategies, such as the care of the continuous thermal envelope on the outside, with an ETICS facade and aluminum joinery with thermal bridge break and roller shutter tunnel boxes.

In summary, LaScalA's social housing units offer a unique solution that reduces the perceived scale of the building while improving the quality of the interior living spaces. The design incorporates sustainable and energy-efficient strategies that create a comfortable and visually appealing living environment for residents.