a selection of Social Housing projects.

Barri Gaudi. This project is hectic, beautiful, sometimes ugly, totally hypnotic.  One of Bofill’s first major projects that explored his ongoing theme: the effect of spatial design on human interaction. This is not simply a building, but an entire ‘barrio’ (neighbourhood) of interlocking, bridged, almost rambling, but complexly arranged dwellings. Shops, bars, health facilities, supermarkets,…

The following projects are located in the wonderfully cosmopolitan city of Barcelona. Here, some of Spain’s most significant architects have filled the city with buildings now world famous – Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, La Pedrera to name but a few; Flores + Prats Sala Beckett; Miralles + Pinos’ Cemetiri Nou d’Igualada; EMBT’s Santa Catarina…

Mallorca, perhaps to many peoples surprise, is home to some wonderful examples of social housing. Most, or all, commissioned by the Institut Balear de l’Habitatge. 18 Viviendas Sociales, Pere GarauPalma de MallorcaRipollTizon – 2008 competition win, 2012 construction completed. Delightfully conceived of, the massing takes the form of new urban envelopes recently formulated allowing pronounced…

Located along the Malecon in Havana, Cuba, the Torre Giron (Giron Tower) was conceived of as giving the middle finger to the bourgeois:  it is sited right on the waters edge occupying a spot front and centre, infront of the homes of the wealthy and privileged. At the time – 1967 – this represented a…

The following projects are from the phenomenon that is the Carabanchel area in Madrid, where thousands of social housing residences can be found, housed within dozens of architecturally design buildings. The government and ‘alcaldia’ worked hard to create a neighbourhood and community within Carabanchel dedicated to high quality social housing projects. Typically initiated by the…