The marès natural stone defines the traditional architecture of the Balearic islands. The loadbearing system and the interior walls of a decrepit three-storey school building in Palma de Mallorca also consisted of the locally sourced limestone. After it was demolished, the architectural team of Harquitectes used the recycled material to build the masonry walls of the new residential structure. The concrete and brick waste of the roof was also recycled as aggregate for the concrete foundations and basement.
Residents enter the 25 subsidised apartments via access balconies facing the courtyard and a stairwell in the corner of the building. On the four upper floors, the apartments extend from the street facade to the courtyard, recessed by one storey below the street level. Here, the spaces for building services are located behind the units of reduced depth. Above them, garages occupy sections of the street level facade. The rooftop floor features setback units that offer room for large terraces. In order to foster communal life among the residents, most of whom are seniors, shared areas enrich the residential functions. Parts of the terraces are accessible to all occupants. A shared laundry room and recreational spaces on all floors offer opportunity for encounter and exchange.
The loadbearing cyclopean concrete masonry crosswalls structure the floor plans according to a clear grid. Smaller units were placed between two crosswalls, while larger ones connect two such spaces. In the facades, the crosswall edges remain visible and observers can clearly recognise the construction and the material. The unclad masonry walls contribute to the interior quality in a significant way. The combination of the visibly exposed cross laminated timber ceilings and the room-height wood frame windows creates a cozy atmosphere. Closed facade elements reduce heat intake. Cost-efficient wooden blinds along the street facade serve as sun protection. Most of the time, when extended, they cover the railings in front of the apartments, which maintains the natural circulation of air.
Please find the related interview with Xavier Ros here.
