This project for social residences was commissioned by the Polytechnic Institute of Porto, to host scholarship-holding students. Out of the several particular programmatic requests, two have driven the design process of this building:
– the possibility of future expansion of the building, doubling its initial area, from ten to twenty rooms;
– the possibility for a flexible occupation of the common areas.
The cost-control of the building played an important role since the beginning.
The internal distribution is designed to optimize area, and the wall finishes have intentionally a rough finish, an acceptance of the appearance of the prefabricated concrete pieces that compose the structural elements of the building.
In order to eliminate circulation spaces, the corridor that connects all rooms works as a large stripe, which is simultaneously host to the social program, such as an informal living room or an open kitchen.
