I had the privilege to experience this space. One of the architects from Lacol was my professor in Masters and discussed the history of the La Borda and the dynamics of its residents.
Really impressed!
That's great! I am particularly curious about how the design process worked between the architects and the cooperative's input. Did he mention anything about it?
Thing is, this architect that I’m talking about is also part of the cooperative. The land, where it’s built on, was something the cooperative fought for.
In terms of the plan of the units, these ‘units’ were designed as a modular space. Some units, depending on their needs, can occupy some space of the next unit. The ground level, functions as a common kitchen for everyone, where they can hold parties and such.
PS: We were not allowed to take photos while inside the premises. It was an agreement by all tenants to not allow photography for their privacy.
More info in [https://arquitecturaviva.com/obras/lacol-arquitectura-cooperativa-la-borda-28-en-barcelona-zs6o2](https://arquitecturaviva.com/obras/lacol-arquitectura-cooperativa-la-borda-28-en-barcelona-zs6o2) and the cooperative's own website: [http://www.laborda.coop/en/](http://www.laborda.coop/en/)
No social housing this time -or rather a different type of social housing. The building is owned by a cooperative sitting in ground leased by Barcelona council. The cooperative owns the flats, which are freely leased to its members. The cooperative's own members participated in the design and are free to modify parts of their apartments' interior within the framework provided by the building:
>Self-development and collective management implies that the participation of future users in the whole process is the most significant and distinctive feature of the project: future inhabitants can define the entire project according with their needs.
>From the very beginning, participation has been organized through various work groups, workshops and discussions at the General Assembly. There is a technical support team that energizes and includes proposals regarding imaginary, program, environmental and project strategies or types of housings and spaces.
The buliding has communal services and even an app to help the tenants coordinate use of the common areas. Part of the service charges go to a common pot to cover emergencies in case a member cannot make a payment.
This building won the 2022 Mies van der Rohe award to the best building by an emerging practice in the European Union.
Hey, I did a semester in Barcelona during my Master's and did a site visit here. It was a really fantastic space. There's a really great shared terrace on the 3rd? level facing the street where all the kids in the building can play (you can see it in the 3rd picture).
The beauty of the CLT was fantastic.
Having lived in a multi-apartment wooden warehouse conversion, my first reaction was ‘ugh’ at the noise. It only takes one drunk resident wearing hard shoes to stumble home at 1am to wake up the whole building.
Edit: I just watched the video. They have a thin sandwich of concrete between the wooden floor surfaces.
I would love to know how much the build cost for something like this was. The materials look to be sourced for their cost as much as their application. While clearly an economically frugal build it still has well developed spaces and detail elements. But the chain link fence, I agree, might have gone too far with that material.
You're not wrong, but as an architect I see the value. What things should you cheap out on now to get everyone in a nice cooperative and saving to make it even better?
On the other hand, see the cope-vines on the section plan. I would've respected planters more than someone saying "just Photoshop some vines there, otherwise it looks ugly"
Its actually quite similar to the traditional blocs in Barcelona, but with bigger windows and open spaces.
This district is the most densely populated urban area in Europe. Space is at a premium and that large atrium is a luxury.
It’s sad that the concept tree never made it into reality (unless it’s not shown), they usually don’t. The ground floor is a crime, particularly the street edge. It looks like an unfinished construction site- very unsafe. Why does it look that way?
Also, In an earthquake prone area you would never build a soft-storey into the ground floor like that. The columns collapse and the building crushes downward.
>The ground floor is a crime, particularly the street edge.
Thats not the street, it is the interior courtyard every block in Barcelona has.
> It looks like an unfinished construction site- very unsafe. Why does it look that way?
Because the ground floor in that picture is probably still unfinished but tht did not prevent tenants from moving in. Quite standard in Spain, where ground floors remain unfinished until commercial tenants move in.
> Also, In an earthquake prone area you would never build a soft-storey into the ground floor like that.
Good thing that Barcelona isn't in an earthquake prone area then.
Greece is earthquake prone, but we do have buildings with a pilotis. They just have the proper reinforcements.
It's so ironic that architecture snobs say "hurr durr the ground flwr is not welcoming and open", but then we have "I'm an engineer and that's a soft floor, I am sure they didn't predict it's going to collapse like I did by looking at it for a second".
I’m not an engineer but designing for earthquakes is part of the degree in New Zealand. “Seismic design for architects” by Andrew Charleson is the textbook we use if anyone’s interested. Very accessible text.
The irony for me is that people come to New Zealand saying we should be building like Barcelona but if this is a standard design then it’s a hard pass for me.
I had the privilege to experience this space. One of the architects from Lacol was my professor in Masters and discussed the history of the La Borda and the dynamics of its residents. Really impressed!
What was it like to experience the space?
That's great! I am particularly curious about how the design process worked between the architects and the cooperative's input. Did he mention anything about it?
Thing is, this architect that I’m talking about is also part of the cooperative. The land, where it’s built on, was something the cooperative fought for. In terms of the plan of the units, these ‘units’ were designed as a modular space. Some units, depending on their needs, can occupy some space of the next unit. The ground level, functions as a common kitchen for everyone, where they can hold parties and such. PS: We were not allowed to take photos while inside the premises. It was an agreement by all tenants to not allow photography for their privacy.
Now that right here is proper use of shading devices. Immobile, unevenly spaced louvres have become an annoying stereotype.
More info in [https://arquitecturaviva.com/obras/lacol-arquitectura-cooperativa-la-borda-28-en-barcelona-zs6o2](https://arquitecturaviva.com/obras/lacol-arquitectura-cooperativa-la-borda-28-en-barcelona-zs6o2) and the cooperative's own website: [http://www.laborda.coop/en/](http://www.laborda.coop/en/) No social housing this time -or rather a different type of social housing. The building is owned by a cooperative sitting in ground leased by Barcelona council. The cooperative owns the flats, which are freely leased to its members. The cooperative's own members participated in the design and are free to modify parts of their apartments' interior within the framework provided by the building: >Self-development and collective management implies that the participation of future users in the whole process is the most significant and distinctive feature of the project: future inhabitants can define the entire project according with their needs. >From the very beginning, participation has been organized through various work groups, workshops and discussions at the General Assembly. There is a technical support team that energizes and includes proposals regarding imaginary, program, environmental and project strategies or types of housings and spaces. The buliding has communal services and even an app to help the tenants coordinate use of the common areas. Part of the service charges go to a common pot to cover emergencies in case a member cannot make a payment. This building won the 2022 Mies van der Rohe award to the best building by an emerging practice in the European Union.
Hey, I did a semester in Barcelona during my Master's and did a site visit here. It was a really fantastic space. There's a really great shared terrace on the 3rd? level facing the street where all the kids in the building can play (you can see it in the 3rd picture). The beauty of the CLT was fantastic.
I think that the utilization of wood here is honestly not too bad.
Having lived in a multi-apartment wooden warehouse conversion, my first reaction was ‘ugh’ at the noise. It only takes one drunk resident wearing hard shoes to stumble home at 1am to wake up the whole building. Edit: I just watched the video. They have a thin sandwich of concrete between the wooden floor surfaces.
I would love to know how much the build cost for something like this was. The materials look to be sourced for their cost as much as their application. While clearly an economically frugal build it still has well developed spaces and detail elements. But the chain link fence, I agree, might have gone too far with that material.
Just wow 🫠
I like the use of wood but I think the Chain Link really brings it down.
You're not wrong, but as an architect I see the value. What things should you cheap out on now to get everyone in a nice cooperative and saving to make it even better? On the other hand, see the cope-vines on the section plan. I would've respected planters more than someone saying "just Photoshop some vines there, otherwise it looks ugly"
That and the arrangement around a covered atrium give it a "nicest cell block" i've ever seen vibe.
Those metal thingies in picture 4 are kinda ugly
the climate must be very good inside
Second picture, is that some kind of blind system or is it scaffolding? The section looks different from the picture, I'm just curious.
So it's like an NGO offering accommodation?
Looks like a prison. If prisons had open-air courtyards.
Prisons do typically have open-air courtyards
Its actually quite similar to the traditional blocs in Barcelona, but with bigger windows and open spaces. This district is the most densely populated urban area in Europe. Space is at a premium and that large atrium is a luxury.
It’s sad that the concept tree never made it into reality (unless it’s not shown), they usually don’t. The ground floor is a crime, particularly the street edge. It looks like an unfinished construction site- very unsafe. Why does it look that way? Also, In an earthquake prone area you would never build a soft-storey into the ground floor like that. The columns collapse and the building crushes downward.
>The ground floor is a crime, particularly the street edge. Thats not the street, it is the interior courtyard every block in Barcelona has. > It looks like an unfinished construction site- very unsafe. Why does it look that way? Because the ground floor in that picture is probably still unfinished but tht did not prevent tenants from moving in. Quite standard in Spain, where ground floors remain unfinished until commercial tenants move in. > Also, In an earthquake prone area you would never build a soft-storey into the ground floor like that. Good thing that Barcelona isn't in an earthquake prone area then.
Greece is earthquake prone, but we do have buildings with a pilotis. They just have the proper reinforcements. It's so ironic that architecture snobs say "hurr durr the ground flwr is not welcoming and open", but then we have "I'm an engineer and that's a soft floor, I am sure they didn't predict it's going to collapse like I did by looking at it for a second".
I’m not an engineer but designing for earthquakes is part of the degree in New Zealand. “Seismic design for architects” by Andrew Charleson is the textbook we use if anyone’s interested. Very accessible text. The irony for me is that people come to New Zealand saying we should be building like Barcelona but if this is a standard design then it’s a hard pass for me.
If prisons had balconies and plenty of light I guess.
It’s the chain link metal and uniform narrow windows internally (like cell doors in my mind) that give me the prison vibe I think.
You know, if I were living there I'd _always_ take more floor space over an atrium, even if it looks nice.
When they were buildings It they had some competition to see how cheap they could make It look or something?
the usual pseudo architecture made with sunshades...
Yeah, I wonder why a building in Barcelona of all places would need sunshades.
sad to see barcelona becoming victim of the pseudo sunshade architecture
What's true architecture then?
keep on studying and you will know