Project: Alto Residencial Coop
Architecture: Carbajo Barrios Arquitectos
Geo: Santiago de Compostela, ES
Monochromatic facades attract the eye regardless of their shape. Here’s an example: a white spot of a simple L-shaped volume in an old Spanish town. If you were to apply a color gradient in a traditional layout, it would lose its appeal. A façade entirely covered in white is a bold decision, usually characteristic of smaller structures. There’s also the question of how to clean and maintain the facades. I didn’t find an answer, but never mind that; what matters is that it looks both monolithic and elegant!
I’d like to highlight the shutters on the windows. The perforation protects residents from the scorching Spanish sun and creates a layered effect on the facade—an option you definitely wouldn’t expect from a white parallelepiped. The space in the apartments outside is perceived like a painting in a gallery, and in the evening, depending on the interior lighting, a diffuse light contour spontaneously forms.
And now for the main "cherry on top." Due to the primary activities of the studio, I’ve encountered a variety of clients: private individuals, investors, traditional developers, concessions, municipalities, etc. This project adds a cooperative of owners to that list. If I hadn’t seen the project realized, I wouldn’t have believed it was possible. A cooperative of 34 families came together, formed a budget, agreed on documentation, and brought this bold project to life. A supreme level of self-organization! A unique appearance to match the unique form of organization.
@gorkjournal
Architecture: Carbajo Barrios Arquitectos
Geo: Santiago de Compostela, ES
Monochromatic facades attract the eye regardless of their shape. Here’s an example: a white spot of a simple L-shaped volume in an old Spanish town. If you were to apply a color gradient in a traditional layout, it would lose its appeal. A façade entirely covered in white is a bold decision, usually characteristic of smaller structures. There’s also the question of how to clean and maintain the facades. I didn’t find an answer, but never mind that; what matters is that it looks both monolithic and elegant!
I’d like to highlight the shutters on the windows. The perforation protects residents from the scorching Spanish sun and creates a layered effect on the facade—an option you definitely wouldn’t expect from a white parallelepiped. The space in the apartments outside is perceived like a painting in a gallery, and in the evening, depending on the interior lighting, a diffuse light contour spontaneously forms.
And now for the main "cherry on top." Due to the primary activities of the studio, I’ve encountered a variety of clients: private individuals, investors, traditional developers, concessions, municipalities, etc. This project adds a cooperative of owners to that list. If I hadn’t seen the project realized, I wouldn’t have believed it was possible. A cooperative of 34 families came together, formed a budget, agreed on documentation, and brought this bold project to life. A supreme level of self-organization! A unique appearance to match the unique form of organization.
@gorkjournal