‘social housing building’ by aguilera/guerrero arquitectos, tarragona, catalonia, spainimage © pepo seguraall images courtesy of aguilera/guerrero arquitectos

 

 

in tarragona, within the catalonia region of spain, stands the ‘social housing building’ by spanish firm aguilera/guerrero arquitectos. resting upon an irregularly-shaped plot, the building’s quadrilateral and curved footprint is a response to its boundaries. stairs along the building navigate the extreme changes in topography along its small footprint. interacting with the existing context encompassing the site, street level retail fronts the pedestrian areas. a L-shaped elevational profile places shops within its base at street level. oriented towards the view, three levels of balconies within each of the two stacked volumes opens along different elevations to offer the best vantage points for inhabitants. internal spaces such as the living room, bedroom and bathroom are fixed sizes between the units. 

 

the white exterior is either framed or covered with a bold red screen to open to the views or offer privacy. the shell acts as a ventilated double facade which responds to the hot and dry climate. vertically striated metal panels offer optical effects as well as a waterproof protection from weather. 

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 2steps navigate the steep site changesimage © pepo segura

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 3street level shops address the streetimage © pepo segura

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 4a facade of balconies open to the viewimage © pepo segura

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 5image © pepo segura

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 6textured metal panel elevationimage © pepo segura

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 7double facadeimage © pepo segura

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 8rear side of buildingimage © pepo segura

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 9floor plan / level 0

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 10floor plan / level 1

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 11floor plan / level 2

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 12floor plan / level 3.5

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 13section

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 14section

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 15section

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 16site plan

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 17site analysis

 

 

aguilera guerrero arquitectos: social housing building in tarragona - 18sketch

 

 

project info:

 

 

location: tarragona _ catalonia (spain)year: 2009architects: aguilera/guerrero architectsdesign team: anton armengol tuaestate developer: servei municipal de l’habitatge i actuacions urbanes s.a.contractor: gulinves s.l.area: 1.507,00 m2photographs: pepo segura