The main objective of this project was to build it in only 8 months, for this reason from the first moment we focused on seriality and standardisation of construction systems.

The housing settlement presents three identical blocks with ninety dwellings in total. The standardisation and repetition of types develop more complex structures. So that, the replication of four of the prototyped apartments, view as the fundamental unity, compose an “L” block. Two “L” blocks produce a typical floor plan and four of these generate a block.

The patio house.

The three above-mentioned blocks are located around a common courtyard, following the Andalusian vernacular tradition. A Patio House, composed of two identical “L” structures, whom contact is defined by staircases.

Choosing a traditional element and a sign of identity like the patio, makes people easy sympathize with it.

Moreover, one of our primary concern was to achieve a high level of comfort in each house. They are provided with cross ventilation and all rooms benefit natural enlightenment. Putting the service areas facing the internal part of the block, and living areas in the external one assures intimacy and privacy. This concept was not typical of a traditional patio housing, where the courtyard made that all the neighbours were aware of everything happened throughout their block. On the other hand, everyone knows that in past, human relations were very different.

The structure is characterized by a concentric distribution of the areas, according to its level of privacy. There is the ring of distribution gangways, that one of kitchens and toilets and the ring of the living rooms, the intimate one, where you can enjoy the view of the green common space outside.

The exterior band of living rooms and bedrooms is flexible. It is planned to easily reconfigure the apartment with a small budget refurbishment. A three bedrooms house, for example, can be converted into a loft.

The terrace is an essential element, as a natural extension of the living area, it connects the apartment with the garden of the block.

The features of access facilitate the positioning of affordable houses and 4 bedrooms dwellings on the ground floor. On the contrary, two bedrooms houses are on the top floor, where they can’t enjoy a projecting terrace but an internal one, more intimate, resulted from the subtraction of one room to the typical floor layout. It is planned not as a lack of floor area, but as an open-air room.

On the ground floor, there are six houses instead of the eight that the typical floor plan present. This two subtracted unit leave the place to two wide porticoed gates which work as a filter between the outside and the inside. One connected with the street and one with the gardens of the plot.

In the gardened courtyard, flowerbeds houses spaces to plant vegetation and clerestories, parking ventilation systems and benches for the neighbours. The rest of the central area is covered by artificial grass contributing to give a more comfortable perception throughout the courtyard. Two big entrance make the garden communicate with the building, one porticoed and the other right underneath the staircase.

Only foundations and parking are built in situ. The rest of the elements, façade, metallic structure and finishing are prefabricated and come from the factory ready to be assembled.