The urban district of Camp Redó, commonly known as Corea, is socially a focal point in Palma de Mallorca. In 1954, where open fields had once marked the urban boundary, General Franco had whole street blocks developed with tenement flats, but without planted areas or a local square. The concrete skeleton-frame structures with brick infill panels were erected in a very short time without any great care, and for years, they have been noted for their defective sanitary installations, stuffy staircases and street spaces lacking any qualities. Block no. 12 is now the outcome of a competition held in 2008. It shows how it was possible to transform one dilapidated strip 40.70 × 6.90 m in size into architecture of premium design with high social attributes. Only the structure, the roof and the outer walls have been retained. Thin composite floors allow a greater clear room height. Folding walls that permit a flexible spatial division of the compact layouts give the dwellings a more ample appearance. Lifts and daylight in the staircases facilitate access as well as greater communication between neighbours. The building retains its original facade articulation: the white rendered walls on a plinth course of grey corrugated metal have a discreetly closed effect. The 19 dwellings are protected from heat and overlooking by folding shutters. Outside the living and dining rooms, these are perforated; in front of the bedrooms, opaque. The outer skin of the building makes an even livelier effect when the sliding shutters on the ground floor are pushed behind the metal facade and when the shutters on the floors above are folded back. No refurbishment of the neighbouring buildings has been undertaken to date. The demolition of two housing strips along the narrow street through the neighbourhood has resulted in the loss of low-cost housing space, but the newly created avenida there has meant conversely that there is more public space in Corea.
