The complex of 32 social housing units is the outcome of an open architectural competition. Currently the 24 housing units are realized. The objective of the developer was the upgrading of social housing by providing contemporary, low-cost living spaces aimed at lower-income groups. The challenge of the project lay in the narrow and elongated plot, located within an existing built environment. Our desire focused on the creation of a porous complex, reinforcing the collective character of the complex through scale and visual connections, and on the creation of apartments that respond to contemporary living requirements.

The design translates these complex conditions, goals, and intentions into six square prisms measuring 10.80 × 10.80 m and rising four storeys, which are interconnected by a unified parking level. The controlled rotation of the volumes generates spatial conditions between them that evoke the small scale and informal character of traditional settlements, forming a contemporary “urban village.” This architectural strategy creates a porous residential ensemble that allows visual permeability to and from the surrounding plots without the imposition of rigid boundaries, while simultaneously offering apartments with free exposure on all sides, direct contact with greenery, appropriate orientation, and natural ventilation in all spaces.

The complex includes two apartment typologies, with two and three bedrooms. The kitchen is positioned at the entrance and functions as the primary space of daily social interaction. Corner balconies, combined with corner openings, allow the extension of the interior living space toward the exterior during the summer months. Common areas are either semi-outdoor or designed with materials that permit the diffusion of natural light.

The material palette of the complex was selected based on principles of simplicity and material honesty, the optimal use of natural light through the incorporation of glass blocks, and the integration of metal shading elements. Construction details featuring exposed concrete in selected structural components of the interior spaces introduce rhythm and articulation. Material choices were largely influenced by the need for low construction costs, without compromising architectural quality or the spatial experience.