30+8 Social housing units
Land use and transformation
The site is located north of Palma, in a heterogeneous area that has been developed in several phases. The current land use is dominated by low-density housing and agricultural areas. The structural solution is inspired by the traditional solution, in which the building’s own structure houses and delimits the living spaces, integrating the functions of load and space.
The project focuses on two fundamental aspects: proper integration into the urban and physical environment, and a functional solution in line with the programme’s requirements. The main building, with a total of 30 housing units, is located on a corner plot in an “L” shape with a buildable depth of 11.5 meters. It consists of a ground floor and four upper floors dedicated for residential use, while the basement and part of the ground floor are used for parking, providing 30 parking spaces. A second building, located on a rectangular plot, features a ground floor and a first floor with a total of eight dwellings.
Community transition
Access to the dwellings is through a lobby that leads to an interior courtyard, from which the units are distributed via covered walkways. This scheme reinforces the neighbourhood relationship and establishes a gradient of privacy from communal to private space. The apartments, with one or two bedrooms, have double orientation and an optimised corridor-free layout, with a central kitchen visually connected to the living room. A multifunctional gallery on the southwest side ensures privacy and improves thermal comfort, acting as a solar collector in winter and facilitating cross-ventilation in summer.
Efficient construction and operation
The structure combines wooden slabs and load-bearing walls made of CEB (compressed earth blocks). CEB is a sustainable and efficient solution that brings multiple benefits to the project. From an environmental point of view, its Km0 production in Mallorca reduces CO2 emissions associated with transport and promotes the local economy. Moreover, as it does not require cooking at high temperatures, it reduces energy consumption and the carbon footprint. Its porous nature allows the walls to breathe, improving indoor air quality and preventing condensation.
In terms of energy efficiency, the CEB stands out for its high thermal inertia, absorbing and releasing heat gradually to maintain a stable temperature inside the home. This reduces the need for artificial air conditioning and contributes to significant energy savings. Its insulating capacity also minimises acoustic and thermal transmission, increasing user comfort, reducing the need to add other insulating materials and reducing the energy consumption of the building.
From a structural point of view, CEB offers high compressive strength, which allows the construction of durable load-bearing walls with low maintenance. It is a material that does not degrade easily and is highly resistant to fire and pests, thus improving the safety and useful life of the building. Its combination with other construction systems, such as reinforced concrete in parking areas and timber floor slabs, enables a balanced, adaptable and sustainable construction approach.
Aesthetic qualities and cultural integration
The use of CEB-blocks in Mallorca continues the island’s building traditions, such as those seen in the traditional houses and other similar techniques, including the construction with marés, where local materials were used to adapt buildings to the Mediterranean climate. In these traditional methods, the structure itself often defined the living spaces, integrating the material with the environment.
In the context of the climate crisis, earth, as an autochthonous material, is a sustainable option that reduces the carbon footprint while using local resources. This approach not only preserves Mallorca’s cultural identity but also addresses environmental challenges, fostering a responsible connection between people and their territory.
CREDITS
Client: IBAVI, Instituto Balear de la Vivienda
Structures
Manuel Arguijo and
Asociados SL
Installations
Estudis d’Enginyeria
de Les Illes SL
Sustainability
Dekra
Executive management
Marco Menéndez and
Missió 21 Arquitectes
