by FOREIGN OFFICE ARCHITECTS
bamboo • Volume 8
intro
Carabanchel allows for customised residential typologies, and the possibility of a differentiated appearance of the units so that its inhabitants would have the opportunity to acquire some form of personal identification with their residences. The regulation sets the number and type of units, that have to meet certain percentages of larger and smaller areas, and have a maximum height, but not the alignment within the rectangular plot
Context
The site is a 100x45 parallelogram oriented north-south and limiting on the west with a new urban park and on the north, east and south with similar housing blocks, located on a new development in the south of Madrid.
concept
The aim was to provide maximum space, flexibility and quality to the residences, whilst erasing the visibility of the units and their differences into a single volume with a homogeneous skin able to incorporate some gradation of differences not dependent on the architect's vision, but on each inhabitants desires.
materiality
The residential units are opened to two different gardens on each orientation, and are fully glazed in the facades. Each side of the building is provided with a 1.5m wide terrace along the full façade that will provide a semi-exterior type of use during certain seasons. These terraces are enclosed with bamboo louvers mounted on folding frames that will provide with the necessary protection from the strong East-West sun exposure, provide security to the units and open entirely to the side gardens when desired. The bamboo is treated to last, and fireproofed and can easily be cut off the mesh and replaced.
Environmental
The residential units are therefore opened to two different gardens on each orientation, and are fully glazed in the facades. Each side of the building is provided with a 1.5m wide terrace along the full façade that will make possible a semi-exterior type of use during certain seasons. These terraces are enclosed with bamboo louvers mounted on folding frames that will provide with the necessary protection from the strong East-West sun exposure, provide security to the units and open entirely to the side gardens when desired.
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