residential complicated in spain places modern twist to conventional andalusian structure

highlighting the tension between tradition and contemporaneity

within the popular neighborhood of ‘campo de la verdad’ in córdoba, spain, architects ignacio laguillo díaz, paco marqués vilaplana and harald schönegger have built a residential complex that puts a contemporary twist on traditional andalusian architecture. the project seeks to reinterpret the recently implemented regulation of typological protection ordinance —which has led to a new formal typology characterized by massive façades— by translating the newly introduced elements into familiar spatial situations. 

adopting a protective character, the exterior takes shape as a continuous volume punctuated by a series of vertical openings. the interior presents itself much differently, integrating fluid spaces, planted patios, water elements, and ornamental detailing. overall, the design forms a distinctive language that highlights the contrast between the public and private realm,  and the tension between tradition and contemporaneity.

all images by fernando alda

14 apartments with a common program

in the ‘campo de la verdad’ residential complex, a relationship of continuity between the street and the patio, the public and the private is proposed, and articulated through the lobby understood as a hallway, a waiting threshold.

the building is organized around a patio, warm and calm, characterized by the presence of vegetation and water, a passive control system for environmental conditions typical of traditional architecture.

reinterpreting the southern models of collective housing, the structure houses 14 apartments as well as a garage. most apartments open exclusively to the outside to preserve privacy from the gallery. the program is common to all of them: toilet, living room-kitchen, and bedroom. the connection between the bedroom and the living area is made through large sliding doors that are embedded in the partition, favoring continuity between the two. it is about creating a fluid space that compensates for its reduced surface.

the building appears massive and protective to the outside, a continuous body that modulates its presence by adjusting the scale of each façade. towards the river, the openings are larger, emphasizing their verticality, as a response to the landscape of the riverbank, while towards the interior of the neighborhood they reduce their size, establishing a relationship of continuity with it. as a general criterion, it is intended that there be no clear reading of which apartment or use each one belongs to.

an ornamental railing, almost textile in quality, resonates with images of popular culture and plant motifs. chinese wash, natural stone, lime mortar, wood, water and plants complete the material palette of the courtyard, toned to produce a pleasant atmosphere, both familiar and strange. this tension between tradition and contemporaneity informs all the decisions made in the project.

myrto katsikopoulou I designboom

jan 29, 2022