Spanish architect Joan J Fortuny works together with design studio Alventosa Morell Arquitectes joined forces and created the 54 social housing units. It is located in Inca, Mallorca, and is defined by its larch shutters and perforated bricks. The units are on an empty lot and it provides socially rented flats developed for low-income tenants for an urban solution.
Fortuny tells Dezeen, "In Mallorca, we have a massive quantity of knowledge and culture to be protected from the wet heat. One of the most successful elements is the Mallorquin shutter, or Persiana Mallorquina, which is used in almost 95 per cent of the houses of the rural area. For us, the solution was to use something that is not new, but apply common sense and local culture to the design."
Image Credit: José Hevia
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Adaptive Reuse Designs
- Repurposing empty urban lots into social housing units could significantly reduce homelessness and promote efficient land use.
- Sustainable Building Materials
- Utilizing locally sourced materials like larch shutters and perforated bricks helps reduce environmental impact and promotes regional craftsmanship.
- Culturally-inspired Architecture
- Incorporating traditional elements such as the Mallorquin shutter into modern designs bridges cultural heritage with contemporary needs.
Sectors Adopting This
- Affordable Housing
- Creating cost-effective housing solutions for low-income individuals addresses pressing urban living challenges.
- Sustainable Architecture
- Designing structures with environmentally friendly materials and techniques caters to the growing demand for green building practices.
- Urban Development
- Innovative urban planning that transforms unused land into livable spaces promotes social equity and urban renewal.
