Valero & Jiménez Torrecillas – Viviendas en Alameda

Completely filling the site are building strips along two decisive east-west longitudinal axes and, belonging to the flats, a line of front and back yards bordered by low walls. The development is ordered into six strips. Two blocks include the 26 residential units. Within the sunny arrival courtyard strip, beside the streets that border the site’s longer side, there are two complementary rows of residential courtyards that are cooler, shady and more protected. They conclude with wall surfaces of the same texture as the gables at the ends of the buildings, which reinforce the defining frame. The goal was construction of low-cost social housing. Starting from its relation to the elevations and the area’s climate, the designer chose to use simple materials and traditional architectural techniques for practical reasons. Following the incline along the hillside and connecting the dwelling units, the roof, treated as a consistently warped sheet, not only emphasises the concept of collective existence formally, but is also a functional element. Raised more than 8 metres along its entire length, it creates heat-activated ventilation within the attic space, protecting against overheating in summer. In front of the openings cut into the simple white-plastered walls are characteristic shading devices which, besides preventing outside observation and ventilating the apartments, relieve the monotonous façade with their plasticity. The compact structure of the 87 m² flats includes areas for the living and dining rooms, kitchen and washroom on the ground floor, as well as three bedrooms and a bathroom on the upper storey.