Celosia Residence by MVRDV and Blanca Lleó in Madrid, Spain

February 27, 2010 Category: Housing, Residential

The social housing block, Celosia Residence that located near the Mirador Building, in Madrid, Spain, was designed by Dutch architects Jacob van Rijs of MVRDV and Madrid architect Blanca Lleó, which is an earlier collaboration. In the just completed the large housing block, Celosia building, in Madrid-Sanchinarro the first residents received the keys to their apartments. The perforated block of Celosia, commissioned by public housing project corporation EMVS, comprises 146 apartments, communal outside areas throughout the architectural building, and parking with a commercial program in the plinth all across a total floor area of 21,550 sq m.

The given volume of the city block was divided into 30 small blocks of apartments. These blocks are positioned in a checkerboard pattern next to and on top of each other, leaving wide openings for communal patios throughout the building with views to the city and mountains. 146 one, two and three-bedroom apartments are all accessed via these communal spaces. Most apartments offer additional private outdoor space in the shape of a loggia right behind the front door.

The façade is made of coated concrete which was from the ground floor up constructed in a complete mould system, an efficient and clean way to cast concrete, keeping the construction cost to a minimum. The polyurethane coating allows the façade to shimmer and reflect depending on the light conditions. A system of power efficient boilers is used in the building; solar panels on the roof heat water reducing energy consumption further. Underneath the building a parking garage on two levels provides 165 parking spaces. The ground floor offers room for 6 individual retail units.

Celosia Residence by MVRDV and Blanca Lleo in Madrid Spain