Viviendas Sostenibles En Puerto Real / Hombre de Piedra + Estudio Glorieta Arquitectos

Curated by ArchDaily

Architects: Estudio Glorieta Arquitectos, Hombre de Piedra
Area: 2918 m²
Year: 2009
Photographs:Jesús Granada

Text description provided by the architects. Regarding to the site, the proposal includes an open three-volume compact building, with 5 storeys instead of the 3 initially planned by the council, which also indicated an urban design in form of perimeter block. This disposition permits more space for gardens and community uses, as well as better general conditions for the buildings. As the proposal was beneficial for the city, the disposition is accepted and gathered in the new urban planning (PGOU).

The three buildings constitute three phases; the construction of the first one has already ended. Searching a certain building compactness is more sustainable because of having a more efficient use of the energy, the infrastructures and the facilities.

Regarding to the environment, the floor plan shows three L-shape buildings. To the South, where the town offers an urban image, the buildings overlap almost appearing as perimeter blocks. But to the North, where the town is disappearing, the blocks are opened to this less consolidated environment, presenting only the end side of the buildings as heads that look at the scenery. All the dwellings benefit from better orientations, insolation and views. The form of the plot is best optimized, as well as the nearby scenery. There are no dwellings only facing the interior of a perimeter block. Nor there are dwellings having one only façade, so every dwelling can have cross-ventilation. There is not many different types of dwellings, and that contributes to a more systematized, industrialized construction, therefore sustainable. Regarding to the orientation, most of the dwellings are facing south, or east-west, being minimal the north orientations. A continuous eave gathers all openings of each dwelling, which is designed specifically according to the solar orientation. These eaves are conformed with prefabricated concrete pieces, though systematization and savings are obtained in lintels formation. On east and west facades, these eaves conform a frame together with vertical pieces that help to protect the openings from insolation.

The parking garage occupies only one basement level and its floor area is bigger than that of the housing, what creates an elevated landscaped deck opened to the scenery. The change of level and the parapet are enough protection towards the exterior, thus there is no need of perimeter wall around this area allowing the vision of the exterior. The excavation is minimized, and the garage have natural ventilation and lighting. There is no need of mechanical ventilation with the consequent saving in materials and energy.

The solar thermal collectors are integrated in the buildings image. Instead of hiding them, the panels are shown above the roof parapets. The yield loss, due to the panels alignment to the buildings geometry, is lower than 5%. The fact of making the panels visible helps to take conscience of the need for energy saving and efficient and renewable production.

The solar thermal collectors are part of a central hot water installation, with one gas water-heater also centralized.