Description:

This 81 m² apartment prototype is the proposal from the Mexican architecture team for the challenge set by the Solar Decathlon LAC 2015 in Cali, Colombia.

The challenge was to make a proposal for high density, ecological, urban social housing in Latin-America. The concept, to come up with a flexible and modular structural system that could adapt to the irregular shapes of the scarce unused land in the city center of Tuxtla Gutiérrez and to create an affordability plan proving the compliance and feasibility of the project under current social housing development regulations.

Contrary to the current tendency of low-density, low-cost, suburban sprawling developments which inevitably end up as isolated communities deprived from services and transportation, we support urban integration and a social mixture among dwellers. To be able to counterweight the high demand of resources to obtain the land without giving up on material’s quality, the apartment’s built area had to be reduced to a progressive module of 27 m² that could be obtained through a federal social housing program and then adapt and expand according to each individual’s requirements, interests and budget. Each building’s appearance and configuration will evolve over time, as the dwellers thrive and adapt their homes, the empty spaces will be taken over, revealing the unique identity of each neighborhood.

The prototype presented for the competition resembles an apartment for up to 4 members with movable elements which allow for spatial re-arrangement and can expand either the private or social area of the apartment. This arrangement also allows for a private back terrace and a room dedicated for productivity which can independently open to the front terrace and allows for direct contact with customers.

The prototype as the apartments in the collective system follow a free plan structure and constructive system based on a mixture of natural and industrialized materials which can be easily disassembled and disposed, it can also be combined with traditional materials and construction methods in order to adapt to its specific context.