Cornellà Housing Block in Barcelona
- Heide Wessely
Steel mesh and the warm natural construction material pine define the facades of the housing block in Cornellà, a southwestern suburb of Barcelona. The two materials were used in a sophisticated manner that provides the cost efficient social housing project with a high quality appearance. This also allows it to strongly distinguish itself from its surroundings, more or less consisting of run-down housing blocks. Peris + Toral possess experience in social housing development and demonstrate that it can be sustainable, of high quality and innovative. A view of the floor plans, divided into 3.60 by 3.60 m squares, emphasises this fact. They look strict in plan, but as three dimensional spaces, they allow a high degree of differentiation. A set of rooms is grouped around a central kitchen. Their functions were not specifically programmed and, as a result, renters can determine themselves where living, working and sleeping take place. All spaces support flexible linkages between them. They are connected by large openings that can be closed by use of sliding doors, as required.
