Text description provided by the architects. The idea of an architectural project with a multifaceted identity, accountable to the residents, the urban area and the environment, was born from the moment of change and growth currently taking place in the Escandón neighborhood.
The project consists of the development of 10 apartments in a 502 m2 plot, with a 50% footprint area and five levels. There are two buildings connected by bridges and a nucleus of vertical circulation. Spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and windows have the same proportions in every apartment.
Every apartment is different and their areas are variable, from 60m2 to 135m2. Therefore, rather than for a single type of user, the apartments have been conceived for a range of different types of users - from single people to couples or small families - who coexist and share the building. Many apartments are developed in two or more half-levels in order to create circulation and break the classic pattern of a city apartment. There are five single-level apartments, three two-level apartments, and two apartments of three half-levels.
The building’s footprint was dictated by the property’s location, allowing a southern or southeastern orientation for most of the apartments. This same approach enabled the creation of a spacious open plaza and an enriching landscaping proposal that encourages visitors to explore the facilities as it establishes a connection between each space and the vertical circulation while providing natural lighting and ventilation.
The materials were chosen so as to do without any coverings or treatments; all materials are used in their natural form and function. Cement block stained in earthy hues was used to give more warmth to the spaces. A mixed structure of concrete and steel was used, and both materials were left visible in the six façades of the building. This kind of mixed structure creates open spaces free of columns and intermediating interruptions.
The apartments have wood and natural stone finishes. Every apartment has terraces and private patios. LED lamps provide artificial lighting, and the plumbing system is supported by rainwater collection and a filter system.
One of the main goals of the project was to have spaces enjoyed by the users from the inside out. The design of the access plaza corresponds with this goal, and it also provides all the apartments with a view, which creates an environment of inclusion and also promotes coexistence between neighbors. Ultimately we wanted to materialize one of the main aspects that characterizes the Escandón neighborhood, a district that is mostly residential and where there is still is a lot of communication and community between residents.
