‘el nodo housing’ by EXIT architects, avilés, spain image © miguel de guzmán, EXIT architects all images courtesy of EXIT architects

atop a hill positioned at the edge of a meadow, the ‘el nodo housing’ by spanish practice EXIT architects has a promontory view of the city of avilés, spain. resulting from local regulations, the residential block is comprised of two neighboring structures which are internally connected with a shared basement. lifted above the street, the ground storey is turned into a sheltered, outdoor public plaza containing benches oriented to observe the adjacent estuary and gather to socialize. the exterior’s industrial character is derived from the encompassing urban context, unifying the neighboring structures with a metal and glass skin. the facade is wrapped with steel sheets which have been torn or bent to form windows and balconies.

internal configurations within the apartments have been compacted within intermediary levels to enable the minimally programmed entry level and spacious double-storey penthouse units. the upper portion of the elevation has also been lightened by enclosing larger areas with windows and reducing density by eliminating portions of the building mass. walls surrounding the stairways are perforated generating a soft glow as the vertical circulation paths remain illuminated at night.

EXIT architects: el nodo housing views of the building from the estuary images © miguel de guzmán

EXIT architects: el nodo housing ground level entry from street image © miguel de guzmán

EXIT architects: el nodo housing gap between the structures image © miguel de guzmán

EXIT architects: el nodo housing facade detail image © miguel de guzmán

EXIT architects: el nodo housing facade detail image © miguel de guzmán

EXIT architects: el nodo housing upward view of facade image © miguel de guzmán

EXIT architects: el nodo housing ground level public plaza overlooking the meadow and estuary image © miguel de guzmán

EXIT architects: el nodo housing image © miguel de guzmán

EXIT architects: el nodo housing view of the city from the public plaza image © miguel de guzmán

EXIT architects: el nodo housing ground level common areas image © miguel de guzmán

EXIT architects: el nodo housing images © miguel de guzmán

EXIT architects: el nodo housing within the industrial context image © miguel de guzmán

EXIT architects: el nodo housing site plan

EXIT architects: el nodo housing floor plan / level 0

EXIT architects: el nodo housing floor plan / level 1, 2, 3

EXIT architects: el nodo housing floor plan / level 4

EXIT architects: el nodo housing floor plan / level 5

EXIT architects: el nodo housing section

EXIT architects: el nodo housing section

EXIT architects: el nodo housing section

EXIT architects: el nodo housing section

EXIT architects: el nodo housing section

EXIT architects: el nodo housing section

EXIT architects: el nodo housing elevation

EXIT architects: el nodo housing elevation

project info:

project: viviendas en el nodo de avilés architects: EXIT architects – ibán carpintero / mario sanjuán / ángel sevillano / josé mª tabuyo client: sogepsa. principado de asturias built area: 2.737 m2 budget: 2.233.087 euros project: 2004 completion: 2007 technical architects: manuel martínez manso / florentino sión mechanical consultant: roberto montero de la losa structural consultant: jofemar s.l. josé luis gutiérrez photographs: miguel de guzmán, EXIT architects general contractor: solius s.l.