PRODUCTORA’s bright blue residential complex responds to new housing needs in denver

mexico city-based architecture firm PRODUCTORA has completed a new co-housing complex in denver, the US, as a response to the new residential needs of singles and extended families in the area. realized in collaboration with joe dooling DDB, the bright blue steel structures can accommodate a great variety of lifestyles, generating low-cost accommodation for small households, while integrating within the morphology of the surrounding suburban context. the project was developed within the framework of the biennial of the americas, a pan-american festival of art and culture.

all images courtesy of onnis luque

in the last years, researchers have identified a growing disconnect between current lifestyles and the housing types that are available in the market. in the united states, where this imbalance is accentuated, most residences are designed for the conventional post-war target group: a white, heterosexual middle-class couple with two kids. however, that audience currently represents less than 30% of the US population. the project by PRODUCTORA seeks to negate this exact situation, introducing a new housing model that responds to multiple family structures and their responding needs. 

the architects of PRODUCTORA set the experimental co-housing project in the first belt of low-density neighborhoods around the city center. taking advantage of a building code rule that permits an accessory unit for each house, the architects designed two three-story main structures (two stories and a loft) along with two independent ones. the first typology features three levels with a bathroom, a kitchenette, and generous communal areas. meanwhile, the independent units serve as studio/homes for artists and take the form of a typical garage attached to the main residence. constructed at an impressively low cost (200 dollars per sqm), the volumes mimic the typical form of a north american single-family dwelling but showcase a bright blue sheet metal exterior that makes them stand out.

project info:

name: co-housing in denver
architects: PRODUCTORA in collaboration with joe dooling DDB 
location: denver, colorado, USA
developed with: biennial of the americas and continuum partners
photography: onnis luque