‘mare de deu housing’ by blanca lleó, barcelona, spain image © filippo poli

in the zona franca of barcelona, the housing building at mare de deu del port is made up of 97 apartments for rent by youth, designed by blanca lleó. nestled into the landscape, the unit looks to both contrast and merge with the encircling environment, its colors informed by the nearby sky, sea and mountains.

measuring 102 meters long and standing five stories high, the structure is composed of intersecting volumes that shift horizontally across a long, linear plane. at its vital center, a diagonal sequence of concatenated voids and medium scale social spaces look to integrate the surrounding city with the private domain while breaking up the dense and compact mass.

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing view from street image © filippo poli

the housing program for youth is completed with a nursery and occupational center, with both services located on the ground floor as well as units for the handicapped. formed by function and the need to accommodate a wide range of age groups and lifestyles, the design aims to create a diverse and encompassing environment that supports civic and social sustainability, communication and exchange.

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing side elevation image © filippo poli

each of the 97 apartments – outfitted with independent bathrooms and kitchens – has an area of 40 meters square. open and therefore free in plan, the units have the ability to adapt to the daily life activities and requirements of each inhabitant.

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing front elevation image © filippo poli

the limited surface of each unit is extended through a large opening to the outside, fostered by the generous ceiling height of the

internal areas. each accommodation has a large window that equates to half of the usable area of the apartment. the facade is solved in

two layers to ensure energy savings and a dynamic and flexible exterior skin. mobile vertical louvers hover above the glazed surfaces,

protecting the rooms from sun and lending a sense of privacy to each home.

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing back elevation facing basketball courts and soccer fields image © filippo poli

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing night view image © filippo poli

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing site view image © filippo poli

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing floor plan / level 0 image courtesy of blanca lleó

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing floor plan / level 1 image courtesy of blanca lleó

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing floor plan / level 2 image courtesy of blanca lleó

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing floor plan / level 3 image courtesy of blanca lleó

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing floor plan / level 4 image courtesy of blanca lleó

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing elevation image courtesy of blanca lleó

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing elevation image courtesy of blanca lleó

blanca lleó: mare de deu housing diagram image courtesy of blanca lleó