Enermotive is tied to the idea of renewable energy, and creating components and systems that are functional, environmentally-friendly, and socially conscious. At this site, we highlight a handful of creative, unique urban solutions that use renewable energy as its backbone. To tremendous effect.
We’ll take a look at collective housing projects in Japan, where overpopulation and increasing smaller available housing space collide to create a unique problem – which requires a unique solution. We’ll also take a look at cutting-edge urban housing solutions in other parts of the world, including Málaga, Spain.
Urban housing solutions steer away from the conventional, and in the best of worlds, promotes a singular community spirit amongst its residents. For example, if an apartment building were built from the ground up as green, it would be gently understood that residents that choose to live there would be – in all probability – somewhat attuned with earth preservation. These residents would therefore have a common bond. Get it? Community.
That’s just one example of a community-based housing project. Common ground isn’t only found in like-mind ideas among residents. Sometimes, community housing is simply a physical setup where common areas are used by all residents, such as kitchens or living room space. In a word, if it’s creative space, and built for groups of people to live in together as harmoniously as possible, we’ll try to cover it here.
These spaces inspires us, and we hope that we can pay that inspiration forward.
Sustainable Housing in Malaga Spain
Netherlands-based firm Mecanoo Architecten has begun construction on an innovative green public housing project in Málaga, Spain. Specifically set on the outskirts of Málaga – in Universidad -, one of the project’s key components is sustainability. This development is comprised of 170 residences – and designed with cutting-edge solar paneling to minimize energy usage, and additionally, has alternating heights of stories which allows for natural ventilation and national light to penetrate interior spaces.
Taking its cue from the “language of the patios” that are strongly rooted in the Mediterranean culture, Mecanoo’s housing plan fits in perfectly with the spirit of Málaga. The project has seven different types of housing plans, including duplex residences to homes designed for disabled individuals. The dwellings themselves are built around eight patios – four smaller, intimate and personal ones and four large, interconnecting, communal spaces. Every apartment connects to both the larger and smaller patio areas, so each resident has both public and private spaces.
The materials used in designing the housing complex is integral in its sustainability. As expected for a dwelling located in the south of Spain, architects employed local materials, such as olive colored tiles in the patio areas, and stucco was used to accent window frames in the main patio space and as cladding on the smaller patio space. In addition to using local materials – which serves the socio-economic conditions of Málaga well – the architects also reduced the number of communication cores found in each house, which provides economic and energy efficiency.
No stranger to collective housing, Mecanoo Architecten hits a home run with this project, mainly by always thinking about the point of views of the end-users (i.e. prospective residents), and in creating an environment specifically designed to simulate their senses. Promoting innovative services and the idea of creating a new and modern neighborhood, this project is due to be completed later this year.
Completed projects deserve celebrations. Which is why once we finish our project corporate gifts in a basket will be a delightful and delicious celebratory gift.