QH Qüestions d’Habitatge /////////////////////////////////////////// 22 Flexibility and gender equality in housing JANUARY 2019 Contents //////////////////////////////////////////// Qüestions d’Habitatge Presentation: No. 22. January 2019 Architectural flexibility and gender equality in collective housing 3 Collection Josep Maria Montaner, Barcelona City Councillor for Housing and Renovation Qüestions d’Habitatge Coordination: Gender justice and the right to housing 7 Communication Department of the Barcelona Laura Pérez, Barcelona City Councillor for Feminism and LGBTI Affairs Municipal Housing and Renovation Institute Photographs: Flexibility and gender equality in housing 11 Municipal Institute of Housing and Renovation David H. Falagan, Doctor of Architecture Editing board: Josep Maria Montaner, Javier Burón, Àngels Mira, Vanesa Valiño, Montse Prats, Gemma Inclusive habitat 55 Font, Núria Ventura and Jordi Palay Ana Paricio, researcher Published by: Barcelona City Council The gender perspective in housing in Spain 63 Municipal Institute of Housing and Renovation Max Gigling, Doctor of Social Psychology. Housing policy researcher All publishing rights reserved 'The Housing Community', blurring the lines between public Graphic design and layout: spaces, collective places and domestic activities 75 Gerard Medina Cierto Estudio Editorial department: Image and Editorial Services Department ISSN 2462- Legal Deposit: B-24190-2016 Facade of the Ca l’Isidret public housing building, on the corner of Carrer Pere IV and Carrer Josep Pla. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Architectural flexibility and gender equality in collective housing //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Josep Maria Montaner Barcelona City Councillor for Housing and Renovation If modern collective housing can be defined by two concepts, Flexibility brings with it a variety of possibilities for internal these are flexibility and gender equality. In addition to their mobility (such as the designer Truus Schröder’s home in diverse nature, these two concepts are directly related to the Utrecht, designed with Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1924) and the changes currently taking place: on the one hand, the possibility ability to transform components based on the existing needs at of change and evolution of housing in a dynamic society that any given time. sees several different family structures over its life cycle; and, The practical concept of perfectibility, championed in on the other, the contributions of the modern feminist struggle Barcelona by Ignacio Paricio, appeared decades later. The that demands gender equality on the basis of justice. They are British experts Sarah Wigglesworth, Tatjana Schneider and therefore two closely related concepts. Jeremy Till have also written about, and experimented with, this The concept of flexibility first emerged with modern flexibility. architecture, in relation to the open plan layout promoted by Through the theories on flexibility and the transformation the two new construction technologies of the 1920s: reinforced ability of the work of architects and artists such as John concrete and steel structures. Flexibility was reinforced in the Habraken, Jan Trapman, Constant and Yona Friedman, among early 20th century by the new families composed of two women others, the theory of supports and experimenting with growing or women at the head of the family – in summary, independent megastructures was proposed. This is where the idea of the women that made flexibility make sense from a social point of open building comes from, in which everything except for the view. structure and a few circulation elements can be transformed, including the façade and installations. //////4//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Interior of a home in the Glòries serviced housing development for the elderly. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////5/////// Flexibility is related to measurements. The key measurement de gènere (2014); Espais per a la vida quotidiana: Auditoria in this regard is the minimum of 2.8 metres per side for the de qualitat urbana amb perspectiva de gènere (2014); Entorns various areas. It provides a threshold below which flexibility habitables: Auditoria de seguretat urbana amb perspectiva de becomes subject to other things, particularly the different gènere a l’habitatge i l’entorn (2017). In these publications, these layout possibilities for the beds: it addresses the need for 2 criteria are applied to housing, collective spaces, entrances and metres for a bed and 80 centimetres to go past comfortably intermediate spaces between the home and the street. and is defined by a theoretical cube of 2.80 x 2.80 x 2.80 as a In addition, flexibility and gender equality entail another minimum area. Rooms that are too small or too narrow thus element that is essential in modern housing: the removal have less functional capacity and must therefore be avoided in of hierarchies. A non-hierarchical home doesn’t have some projects. rooms that are larger and have better qualities than the rest, Gender equality seeks to break with the traditional division or en-suite bathrooms that are exclusive to certain rooms and of gender roles in domestic spaces and, thus, with the rigid imply an internal hierarchy. Non-hierarchical homes are easier dichotomy between private and public spaces. It aims to to sell on the second-hand market than rigid, hierarchical uphold spaces used for reproductive and care purposes. Based structures. They promote less specific areas and are therefore on this point of view, the lack of neutral elements in the home is more adaptable to a variety of family groups and functions. demonstrated. This is particularly so in the case of the kitchen, The architects of the firm CIERTO ESTUDIO write about these which has encouraged the dominance of one gender over the matters based on their experience with the Glòries housing other, the submission of women to housework. Because of project. all this, the kitchen must be in a central and visible position In this issue No. 22 of Qüestions d’Habitatge, the articles rather than relegated and closed off, and it should allow several written by Ana Paricio and David H. Falagán, who are very people in the family to engage together in collaborative work, closely acquainted with the recent projects of the Barcelona making housework visible and shared. In practice, it means Municipal Institute of Housing and Renovation (IMHAB), that the home plan must take into account the entire laundry go deep into the conceptual, functional, formal and metrics cycle and the provision of spaces for care; that each member of implications of these two concepts. In addition, housing expert the shared-living unit must have his or her own space; and, in Max Gigling analyses the gender perspective in relation to addition, that there must be suitable storage spaces. access to housing in Spain. In Catalan architecture, the defence of gender equality All this takes place in a context in which these mechanisms was started by Anna Bofill and continued by Zaida Muxí, the are gradually being introduced into tenders and projects. It is author of Recomanacions per a un habitatge no jeràrquic ni also happening at a time of express commitment to gender androcèntric (2009) and Mujeres, casas y ciudades. Más allá del equality at the City Council, with the Councillor's Office for umbral (2018) Feminism and LGBTI Affairs led by Councillor Laura Pérez. In The association Punt 6 – created as a result of the exhibition this context, the Gender Justice Plan cited by the Councillor has 'La casa sense gènere' ['The genderless home'] (2005) and been reinforced by the Area of Ecology, Urban Planning and which takes its name from the point at which the Catalonia Mobility with a government measure for urban planning with District Plan established the compulsory nature of equality a gender perspective. Å and gender perspective in all areas – has produced a number of educational publications on the various ways in which gender equality affects urban planning and architecture, public spaces and housing. Its publications include, among others: Dones treballant: Guia de reconeixement urbà amb perspectiva Interior of a social housing rental home for the Carrer Tánger, 40 development. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Gender justice and the right to housing ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Laura Pérez Councillor for Feminism and LGBTI Affairs of Barcelona City Council Housing is a fundamental inclusion factor that transcends chical and non-man-centred constructions and renovations in order the boundaries of built space and also affects spheres to break away from binary considerations and from the traditional such as sustaining life and caring for people. Further- distribution of roles that continue to cause gender inequalities. more, it cannot be separated from other rights such as the right Another challenge is experimenting with new sustainable to education, work, health or political and social participation. forms of occupancy beyond the market that protect wom- This is why it is so important to guarantee it effectively. en from the higher social and financial vulnerability to which It is therefore no coincidence that, historically, housing has they are often subject. Examples include housing coopera- been the subject of claims, conflict and resistance led primarily tives, guaranteed rental schemes or measures based on access by women. All we need to do is look back at the Latin Amer- to public housing based on gender criteria, such as in cases of ican rent strikes of the 19th and 20th centuries or the Platform people who are at risk of gender violence. for People Affected by Mortgages (PAH) in the last few years of The Gender Justice Plan includes the contributions of feminism to the economic crisis. At present, the pressures of an economic overcome the strong dichotomy between private and public spaces model based on the construction and financialisation of life has as a transferred representation of that other unreal division: the one ultimately placed this right out of reach. that distinguishes between the domestic world and the productive At Barcelona City Council, we have taken on the challenge of world. Homes must include community uses, both inside and in promoting the right to housing, the right to the city, and we be- their immediate surroundings, and must be designed together with lieve that it is necessary for housing policies to take account of their surrounding public spaces. Renovating housing also means re- the gender perspective. And we have included this in the Gen- generating neighbourhoods and providing them with local services. der Justice Plan, which has been drawn up by the Councillor's The matter of housing is central to this. We need to move away Office for Feminism and LGBTI Affairs. from standard, uniform solutions and add flexibility and crea- This plan states that policies must be designed taking into account tivity to policies in order to meet this requirement effectively. family and demographic changes, and the increase in single-parent Increasing the amount of money spent on this is necessary but and single-person families in Barcelona is a fact. Because of these not enough. This is a time for diversifying solutions and exper- households, as well as others, we must adapt the design of public imenting with new designs and new tools in order to achieve a policies to the specific needs of the families that live in them and greater impact from housing policies. In addition, all this needs which change over their life cycle. Furthermore, we need non-hierar- to be done at multiple administrative levels. Å ›››››› ››››› Flexibility and gender equality in housing Public housing building in Can Batlló. CHAPTER ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› 01 Flexibility and gender equality in housing 00. Introduction of housing, precisely placing at their centre not the In the introduction to The image of the city1 by formal conditions of architecture but the uses and American urban planner Kevin Andrew Lynch – occupation of spaces. Alexander’s design patterns who studied users’ experience of spaces – Lynch or Habraken's theory of supports respectively can described the city as an entity whose moving be considered two examples of this interpretation. elements are as important as the unmoving For this reason, in the next few pages we will physical parts. His point of view is easy to seek to analyse housing from a dual point of understand if you look at the movement of view: paying attention to the easily recognisable people, traffic or the activities carried out on the ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› spaces that make up a home on the one hand, street as being as important as the city’s buildings David H. Falagan and considering the more everyday functions and or fixed infrastructure. The perception of the city Doctor of Architecture uses that take place in it on the other. not as a physical item but as an organic one that In the context of collective housing, it is is in constant evolution is very similar to the view worth remembering that, for years, successive we could have of any occupied architectural work, pieces of housing legislation have been passed but more particularly of residential ones. In fact, resulting in the definition of a set of minimum one could define a home as a shared-living group compulsory physical conditions of habitability. that inhabits a place defined by a set of spaces. Despite this, legislative efforts have historically This means that spaces are as important in the focused on a quantitative definition that could definition of housing as the functions and uses explain a set of dimensions regarding health and given to them by their inhabitants. comfort requirements, adapted to the standard This approach to housing is probably not an occupancy of a home. This legislation could be original one although, from the architects’ point considered to be valuable at the times of highest of view, research has often focused on more 'static' speculative pressure on mass housing production aspects. Some leading architects of the second half , particularly in the first half of the 20th century – of the 20th century, such as Christopher Alexander but has proven to be insufficient at times, such and N. John Habraken, already developed theories as this, of demographic diversity, redefinition of shared-living models or a tendency towards the 1. Kevin Lynch (1998). The Image of the City. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili. individual appropriation of spaces. As shown by all ››››1››2›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Interior of a home in the Glòries serviced housing development for the elderly. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››1›3››››› the available statistics, neither the family models >>>>>>>>>>>>> of the development as a whole, we have chosen to nor the age at which people access housing, nor The projects apply the same battery of questions to all projects. the number of occupants in each home, nor even In order to apply our method in this manner, the uses that we demand from current homes, are reviewed include the first element we will discuss is the capacity of represented as such in the inherited legislative housing with a graphic assessment system that can convey a models. land usage rights, home’s flexibility and equality conditions. In this context, the legal definition of specific housing for people rooms with concrete conditions inevitably leads affected by urban 01. Housing and representation to a pre-established use for, and appropriation Architectural assessment mechanisms have of, each area. In spite of this, such conditioning planning, social become tools which, although occasionally seen can be minimised during the design process, and rental homes with scepticism from a blueprint designer's the dimensions and relationships between rooms and institutional perspective, provide objective information to can be reconsidered in order to give maximum housing for the people from outside this discipline. Their role adaptability to spaces and minimise hierarchies must be particularly relevant for the assessment elderly. when occupying them. of the architectural design of homes, which few For this reason, in this article we will define an >>>>>>>>>>>>> people design but everyone occupies. interpretation of the concepts of flexibility and For this reason, this analysis aims to define adaptability that will be useful when analysing in a recognisable way the representation of the housing. In the final part of this document, we qualities present in housing projects. The analysis will apply this analysis to a few projects developed is thus useful in three different ways: it can provide in recent years (mainly between 2013 and 2015) a useful tool as a guide during the design process; by the Barcelona Municipal Institute of Housing it can provide a valid tool for adapting it to and Renovation with the aim of obtaining a regulatory procedures; and it can be an essential diagnosis of the state of this matter and make a way of conveying the most important qualitative few recommendations for improvement. features to be taken into account in a domestic However, it is worth noting that, in order to environment. carry out the analysis, we have had to accept Based on the need to set parameters for certain some simplifications that must be mentioned. housing conditions, we consider what conditions First, the observations have been applied to should be taken into account in order to provide projects at different stages of development, an appropriate representation of this analysis. which are therefore still subject to change. Nowadays, it would be unthinkable to buy a Second, the analysis focuses on the homes’ packet of biscuits in the supermarket without first given configuration, thus focusing on a specific checking the list of ingredients or the nutrition approach to the interior spaces of each housing information on the label. No one would even think unit. Finally, the projects reviewed include of buying a new car without thoroughly reviewing housing with land usage rights, housing for its power or fuel efficiency on the technical data people affected by urban planning, social rental sheet. No one would ever take home a fridge homes and institutional housing for the elderly. In without checking the energy rating on the label. spite of the configuration differences, particularly Not even when we buy the clothes we wear do we in this last case in which there are considerable fail to first check their composition and washing differences in surface areas and in the operation instructions. ››››1›4››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› All this information enables us to know more >>>>>>>>>>>>> combination with each other. The experiences of about the products beyond their physical If you look at the the successive residential assessment traditions appearance: it is information that is directly of the 20th century show a gradual contribution related to a brand’s use, comfort, energy majority of the of qualitative parameters which, although often consumption, health quality or even social value; current legislation, not quantifiable, are identifiable. Identifying for example in cases in which information on many of the and defining such parameters and making them organic means of production or local trading is considerations objective is thus the first challenge if we want to provided. This situation results in a paradox: it is governed by it can be move towards assessing certain conditions of a easier to ascertain the number of cubic metres of home. storage in our car than those of our own home, or considered obsolete. If you look at most of the current legislation, to establish the energy efficiency of a fridge than Anyone can see as mentioned in the introduction, many of the that of our home as a whole. that social, urban considerations governed by it can be considered In the case of all these items – food, vehicles, or technological obsolete. Anyone can see that social, urban or clothing, household appliances, etc. –, these technological changes take place much faster changes take characteristics were taken into account during than regulatory or legislative changes. Paradigms their production process. Assessing this process place much faster must be reviewed from various points of view, as guarantees the characteristics of the products than regulatory or well as from the various levels of approach to the such that their final quality is reflected in a number legislative changes. residential reality. of parameters that can be compared. These are >>>>>>>>>>>>> In any case and along these lines, the explained to the people who buy them and use assessment of housing is not aimed at regulating them by means of quality seals, labels or data it but is carried out from an analytical point of sheets. There is therefore a triple process at play: view: one that allows us to identify the parameters the definition of the parameters, the assessment of that provide quality to residential actions, which their implications and the information provided makes it easier to consider the objective values to users. it provides and makes it possible to convey them Construction is clearly subject to quality to the people who live in them, both now and in controls: in relation to structural safety, to the future. It is an operational assessment, one protection against the risk of fire, to a variety of that provides value as a project tool and as a tool health-related aspects and, particularly more for critical analysis. This is why our first task will recently, to energy performance. In addition, involve defining the concepts of flexibility and in the case of housing, there are often legal equality that we will be using in these pages. requirements as to habitability and accessibility that basically establish minimum (quantitative) 02. Flexibility and gender equality dimensions that guarantee its use. In spite of this, In this analysis of housing, the concepts of there are a great many qualitative parameters flexibility and gender equality have been used as that are often neither regulated nor assessed nor arguments relating to the aspirations of collective explained to users and which are crucial to the housing: maximum versatility of use for the people quality of a residential environment. who use it and minimal hierarchical conditioning Any housing analysis must undoubtedly take in its layout. It is worth briefly clarifying in this into account both quantitative and qualitative regard how these concepts are interpreted here factors, and we should look at them in and how they can be applied to our analysis. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››1›5››››› Adaptability and flexibility of modern collective housing – originally Although here we talk about flexibility, the term represented by architectural projects as important that best defines our conceptual approach is as those of Francesc Mitjans, Francisco Juan Barba adaptability. In relation to this, we agree with the Corsini, Josep Antoni Coderch and Lluís Nadal, for terminology used by professors Jeremy Till and example – a stranger to this desire for flexibility. Tatjana Schneider in their research on flexible housing2. Space hierarchies According to their work, which uses the By including the gender perspective in this nomenclature previously used by engineer Steven approach, the analysis of space hierarchies Groák (The Idea of Building, 1992)3, a home is seeks to detect and raise the profile of situations flexible when it can adapt to changing needs of inequality, subordination or imbalance in and patterns, both social and technological. In a the use of homes by men and women. It is way, he is referring to a home designed to permit worth remembering that the concept of gender physical modifications that will make it suitable perspective – or gender studies – refers to the for different configurations. On the other hand, category of analysis in which methods for by adaptability we mean the home’s ability to detecting cultural constructions differentiated by accommodate a variety of social uses. In this case, without making changes to the layout, spaces can be considered to be adaptable when they allow very different functions and uses. The term flexibility would thus be used very specifically to refer to the ability to change the physical configuration of the home. But, in general, we will use the word flexibility in a much more open way so as to include both abilities – adaptability too –, although giving priority to the soft concept of flexibility, the concept according to which a user is able to modify the appropriation or use of a space without any technological resources. In this regard, the wish for flexibility has been found to be one of the qualities most sought after by contemporary architecture. Great masters of modern architecture have included this characteristic – albeit with different strategies – in their designs. And neither is our local tradition 2. Jeremy Till, Tatjana Schneider (2007). Flexible Housing. London: Archi- tectural Press. 3. Steven Groák (1992). The idea of building: Thought and action in the design and production of buildings. London: E & FN Spon. Interior of a home in the Can Batlló developments built by IMHAB. ››››1›6››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› gender are developed. In summary, the aim is to housework areas sized for only one person, etc. unmask the hierarchies attributed by society to are typical characteristics of hierarchical homes. men and women. In order to incorporate the gender perspective In relation to this, the consideration of in housing policies, it is more important than household tasks as a premise that must be taken ever to ensure the visibility of every area in into account at the design stage makes it possible which housework is carried out and ensure the to share and make visible certain functions that participation of all users of the home in those are erroneously assigned to women in the cultural tasks. It must also be taken into account that an context of the nuclear family. Achieving equal exclusively structure-based view of the home relationships without gender role conditioning could conceal architectural features that might involves identifying these activities and making help remove the hierarchy of the home. In a way, them more flexible by involving everyone who although these matters go beyond the scope of lives in the home. the analysis proposed here, the whole building Spaces are never neutral, so it is not difficult to designed – or neighbourhood planned – can show situations of imbalance that can result in include uses and facilities that facilitate equal hierarchical uses. Bedrooms with a large difference opportunities from a gender point of view. in dimensions, kitchen or laundry spaces that are We know of some international homes that invisible to passive inhabitants, bathrooms that have really explored the removal of hierarchies. are tied or restricted to only some inhabitants and For this reason, we will seek to find those projects Close view of the kitchen of one of the serviced homes for the elderly in the Glòries development. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››1›7››››› that have been carried out either fully or partly >>>>>>>>>>>>> functions carried out in them. We will see the great on the basis of particular attention to the gender Spaces are never extent to which excessive definition, distinction perspective. In summary, the most ambitious aim or compartmentalisation (particularly in cases of when designing a building or neighbourhood will neutral, so it is small areas) limits a space's capacity for flexibility. be to propose a number of different strategies not difficult to We will then review the conditions that should in order to keep spaces active and obtain an show situations of be analysed in each area and will identify from interesting range of degrees of privacy. imbalance that can among the projects under analysis those that best result in hierarchical exemplify the qualities sought. Related approach Equality and flexibility are part of a mutually uses. Bedrooms related approach: a space that is not very flexible >>>>>>>>>>>>> The number of bedrooms is usually seen as will easily lead to a hierarchical use, just like a very a defining quantitative factor of a home’s hierarchical home is not a very flexible one. dimensional capacity, regardless of the capacity From the point of view of method, in this article (volume or surface area) of the bedrooms the approach to spaces and uses through the themselves. This consideration has resulted in the concepts of flexibility and hierarchy is carried out hierarchical configuration of bedrooms from the through a battery of analytical questions applied habitability regulations themselves (the maximum to a number of selected projects in order to detect geometric requirement only applies to one of the their weak points and positive characteristics. bedrooms, which is automatically considered to Below are the aspects taken into account and the be the main bedroom, thus favouring hierarchies results of the analysis in projects that can serve as inside the home). In spite of this, it would be examples. By way of reflection on the graphical more appropriate when defining these spaces to analysis, the conditions that can be improved will look at the number of people or inhabitants that be indicated in red in each case. compose the shared-living group and seek to It is worth clarifying that this analysis does not avoid small rooms that preclude changes in use intend to define a closed model of housing. On the and appropriation. contrary, its aim is to virtually inhabit the projects From the point of view of a flexible appropriation from specific analytical positions in order to detect of spaces, and considering that a bed can be aspects that can be put into practice from both a as much as 2 metres long, we should define configuration and a legislative point of view. bedrooms based on the possibility of changing the layout of the furniture. Thus, a bedroom that is optimised from a flexibility point of view should 03. Flexibility of spaces and everyday have a minimum clear space of 2.8 x 2.8 metres uses and a minimum width of 0.8 metres between the bed and the dividing wall. This in no way I. FLEXIBILITY OF SPACES means that this minimum surface area is enough. We will start by analysing the spaces that are However, if you include a clear space of these commonly recognisable in any home. Bedrooms, dimensions, you guarantee the possibility of using lounges, kitchens and bathrooms on the inside, the bedroom with the bed in at least two different and terraces or balconies on the outside, are orientations. compartmented areas that predefine some of the On the other hand, in order to minimise ››››1›8››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› hierarchies and facilitate the interchangeability Bon Pastor Phase IV – Building G2 of uses and users as well as the appropriation 60 homes for people affected by urban development of spaces by new arrivals, there should no Architects: TAC (Eduard Gascón) significant differences in size between bedrooms. Finally, maximum neutrality can be achieved by planning all the bedrooms with equivalent quality conditions in terms of lighting, orientation and ventilation, etc. In view of all this, we propose an analysis of the clear dimensions of spaces and their flexibility when occupying them, in order to establish the dimensional hierarchies that affect housing. One of the projects that best treats bedrooms as flexible areas is Building G2 of Phase IV of the Bon Pastor development. Here, the TAC architectural team (Eduard Gascón) proposes two bedrooms that are almost equivalent as regards surface area and conditions and which can fit a circumference of 3.2 metres. In fact, the home in question has a third bedroom, but one that is clearly differentiated in order to encourage other uses. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››1›9››››› Configuration Bedroom that is more suitable for other uses Unplanned activities Element with a hierarchy Conditioning of openings Inadequate provisions Single-person space 0 1 2 m ››››2›0››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Flexibility of spaces Possible work area 1 Bedrooms 3 2.05 m 3.20 m 3.20 m Dimensional hierarchies 1 2 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 m 1. Clear dimension 2. Flexibility of occupation 2 Lounge / Kitchen 3.20 m 1.80 m [2 people] 1 2 1 2 Lounge/kitchen visibility Simultaneous uses Central nature of the whole 1. Visibility between the kitchen and the main living room 2. Simultaneous use 3 Bathrooms 1 1.00 m 1.20 m [1 person] [1 person] Simultaneous use [1 compartmented bathroom] Simultaneous use 1 2 [double bathroom] Care use Non-hierarchical use 1. Possible use 2. Restrictions on use 4 Balconies / Terraces 0.90 m [reproductive work use] 2.4 m [habitable space +] Habitable space use Storage use Reproductive work use 1. Clear space dimension 2. Area of influence ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››2›1››››› Everyday uses 1 Storage Possible space for linen Conflict with enclosure Clothes 7.00 m3 Pantry 0.90 m3 Kitchen utensils 0.90 m3 Cleaning products Waste 0.30 m3 Large 3.50 m3 Total volume 12.60 m3 12.60 m3/5= 2.52 m3/room 2 Laundry cycle 1 5 Possible area 3 4 2 1 Dirty laundry 2 Washing 3 Hanging up/Drying 5 3 5 4 Folding/Ironing 1 1 5 Clean washing1 1 Approx. aggregate distance travelled: 28.41 m 3 Food axis 1 Cooking 1.80 m [2 people] 2 Washing 2 3 Pantry Work triangle 3 1 Dimensions Lighting Arrangement Fitting of 60 x 60 cm modules 4 Work spaces Possible reproductive work area Possible independent work area Possible dependent work area Reproductive work area ››››2››2›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Lounge / Kitchen The main living room of the home is the space with Via Augusta – Via Augusta, 401–403 the greatest size requirements under the current 13 homes for people affected by urban development habitability legislation. It can be considered to Architect: Esteve Terrades be the area that is shared by everyone who lives there and, therefore, the place where a number of leisure-related options converge, but work activities (housework or other), which can be carried out at the same time, also take place here. The kitchen, on the other hand, is the home’s most specialised living space. It is a functional place, designed for carrying out all the tasks relating to the food axis, and is therefore a work area that requires a set of specific conditions. The connection between the main living room (lounge/dining room) and the kitchen increases the visibility of the tasks carried out in the kitchen, prevents the person who carries them out from being excluded or discriminated against and fosters involvement by the other inhabitants. On the other hand, when the lounge and the kitchen are integrated in a single area, there is a risk of interfering with the rest or leisure of the people who are most involved in kitchen tasks, for whom these tasks would be always visible. For this reason, we recommend an integration that can be modulated, allowing simultaneous uses and visibility of the work but also ensuring that users can rest. One last factor to take into account is the central nature of the whole and its integration with the rest of the home, with different configurations so as to promote visibility and shared participation in its uses, parental control and even communication with outside spaces. It is precisely this centrality that was beautifully achieved in Esteve Terrades’ Via Augusta 401-403 project. The proposed configuration does not just involve the kitchen occupying the central space of the home: the way the dining room and the lounge are placed in relation to each other promotes maximum adaptability for relationships. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››2›3››››› Configuration Unplanned activities Single-person space Too small Single-person space Conditioning use Too small 0 1 2 m ››››2›4››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Flexibility of spaces 1 Bedrooms 1 2 2.70 m 2.70 m Dimensional hierarchies 1 2 0 1 2 3 4 m 1. Clear space dimension 2. Flexibility of occupation 2 Lounge / Kitchen 3.05 m 1 1 2 2 1.50 m [2 people] Lounge/kitchen visibility Simultaneous uses Central nature of the whole 1. Visibility between the kitchen and the main living room 2. Simultaneous use 3 Bathrooms 1.05 m 1.32 m [1 person] [1 person] Simultaneous use [1 compartmented bathroom] Simultaneous use [double bathroom] Care use Non-hierarchical use 1. Possible use 2. Restrictions on use 4 Balconies / Terraces 0.75 m 1.70 m [reproductive work use] [reproductive work use] Habitable space use Storage use Reproductive work use 1. Clear space dimension 2. Area of influence ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››2›5››››› Everyday uses 1 Storage Clothes 5.60 m3 Pantry 0.90 m3 Kitchen utensils 0.60 m3 Cleaning products 0.30 m3 Waste 0.30 m3 Large 2.50 m3 Total volume 10.20 m3 10.20 m3/5= 2.55 m3/room 2 Laundry cycle 5 5 Possible area 3 1 1 3 4 1 Dirty laundry 2 2 Washing 3 Hanging up/Drying 1 4 Folding/Ironing 5 5 Clean washing Approx. aggregate distance travelled: 28.40 m 3 Food axis 1 Cooking 2 Washing 3 Pantry 3 2 Work triangle 1 1.50 m [2 people] Dimensions Lighting Arrangement Fitting of 60 x 60 cm modules 4 Work spaces Possible independent work area Possible dependent work area Reproductive work area ››››2››6›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Bathrooms Glòries Phase I – Carrer Ciutat de Granada, 147, 151 and 155 These too are clearly specialised areas whose 105 institutional homes for the elderly, primary healthcare centre regulation is practically restricted to the numerical Mental Health Centre and Cultural Centre for the Elderly definition of the hygiene-related devices included Architects: Esteve Bonell, Josep M. Gil, Marta Peris and José Toral in them. However, bathroom layout can seriously influence the functionality of the home as a whole. The case that provides the clearest example of this is that of homes with two bathrooms of which one is en-suite. This inclusion of an en-suite bathroom clearly creates a hierarchy between bedrooms and leads to unequal occupation by the shared-living group. For this reason, an analysis of the bathrooms leads to the conclusion that there are restrictions on their use by the inhabitants, which are usually caused by hierarchical layouts. On the other hand, the bathrooms available must be related to the capacity of the home as a whole, taking into account that the simultaneous use of such facilities must always be possible. An efficient way to achieve this is by having separate bathrooms for different uses, permitting their simultaneous use without having to fully duplicate the equipment. Finally, we must also take into account the size of bathrooms, which must fit more than one person in order to assist children or the elderly or for other situations. It is no coincidence that the configurations of institutional homes provided by the Barcelona Municipal Institute of Housing and Renovation often provide the best solutions to the conditions analysed here. Although these homes are small, the solutions designed usually aim to achieve maximum versatility and capacity for the provision of assistance in bathrooms. For example, the Glòries/Ciutat de Granada project by Esteve Bonell, Josep Maria Gil, Marta Peris and José Toral includes a central toilet sized for the provision of assistance and a sink outside that can be used at the same time. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››2›7››››› Configuration Too small Compartmented area Unplanned activities Activities in shared spaces 0 1 2 m Single-person space ››››2›8››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Flexibility of spaces 1 Bedrooms 2.60 m 1 Dimensional hierarchies 1 0 1 2 3 4 m 1. Clear space dimension 2. Flexibility of occupation 1.40 m 2 Lounge / Kitchen [1 person] 2 2 3.80 m 1 1 Lounge/kitchen visibility Simultaneous uses Central nature of the whole 1. Visibility between the kitchen and the main living room 2. Simultaneous use 3 Bathrooms 1.20 m [1 person] 1.50 m [2 people] Simultaneous use [1 compartmented bathroom] Simultaneous use [double bathroom] Care use Non-hierarchical use 1. Possible use 2. Restrictions on use 4 Balconies / Terraces 1.50 m [habitable space use] Habitable space use Storage use Possible storage use Reproductive work use 1. Clear space dimension 2. Area of influence ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››2›9››››› Everyday uses 1 Storage Clothes 3.90 m3 Pantry 0.90 m3 Kitchen utensils 0.90 m3 Cleaning products 0.30 m3 Waste 0.30 m3 Large 1.30 m3 Total volume 7.60m3 7.60 m3/2= 3.80 m3/room 2 Laundry cycle 2 5 Possible area 3 1 1 1 Dirty laundry 2 4 Washing4 3 Hanging up/Drying 3 4 3 Folding/Ironing2 5 Clean washing Alternativa en espacios Approx. aggregate distance travelled: 20.00 m comunes 1.40 m 3 Food axis [1 person] 1 Cooking 2 Washing 2 3 3 Pantry 1 Work triangle Dimensions Lighting Arrangement Fitting of 60 x 60 cm modules 4 Work spaces Possible independent work area Possible dependent work area Reproductive work area ››››3››0›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Balconies / Terraces Bon Pastor Phase III – Building F1 – Carrer Biosca, 17-25 We can also expressly look at the parts of homes 61 homes for people affected by urban development that are most related to the outside environment. Architects: Joan Pascual and Ramon Ausió Balconies, terraces and galleries, among others, are intermediate spaces that connect the private activities of the home to the public circumstances of a place. They encourage the socialisation of the group of inhabitants on the one hand and spatial identification on the other. These are usually also spaces that facilitate the regulation of temperature in the home by means of shade, double glazing or other options. In particular, the external spaces enjoy functional characteristics of indeterminate function that make them particularly suitable for flexible use. There are many possibilities, although they are mainly conditioned by their dimensions. An outside area that allows for comfortable occupation by more than one person (the size of these spaces usually starts at 1.5 metres) can be occupied as a living space that can be used to supplement the indoor spaces. For anything smaller, possible uses relating to the laundry cycle (spaces for hanging up washing outdoors, sorting or storage spaces, etc.) can be considered. Even so, in such cases we recommend that they should be linked to a specific laundry area, something that is only very rarely proposed. In summary, outside spaces belonging to the home are analysed according to their functional capabilities and the areas of influence of the home that benefit from these additional spaces. These outdoor spaces are very well dealt with in Joan Pascual’s and Ramon Ausió's project for Building F1 of Phase III of the Bon Pastor development. Here, the architects work with various terrace formats and always qualify their dimensions and characteristics. The desire to use terraces for functions relating to the home’s indoor areas is identified. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››3›1››››› Configuration Insufficient and individually allocated storage Element with a hierarchy Unplanned activities Single-person space Bedroom that is suitable for other uses Conditioning use 0 1 2 m ››››3››2›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Flexibility of spaces 1 Bedrooms 2.60 m 2.00 m 1 2.00 m Dimensional 22.05 m hierarchies 1 2 3 3 4 4 0 1 2 3 4 m 1. Clear space dimension 2. Flexibility of occupation 2 Lounge / Kitchen 1.20 m [1 person] 3.45 m 2 2 1 1 Lounge/kitchen visibility Simultaneous uses Central nature of the whole 1. Visibility between the kitchen and the main living room 2. Simultaneous use 3 Bathrooms 1.20 m [1 person] 1.20 m [1 person] Simultaneous use [1 compartmented bathroom] Simultaneous use [double bathroom] Care use Non-hierarchical use 1. Possible use 2. Restrictions on use 4 Balconies / Terraces 0.90 m [reproductive work use] Habitable space use 1.75 m Storage use [habitable space] Reproductive work use 2. Area of influence 1. Clear space dimension ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››3›3››››› Everyday uses 1 Storage Clothes 4.80 m3 Pantry 0.90 m3 Kitchen utensils 0.90 m3 Cleaning products 0.90 m3 Waste 0.30 m3 Large Total volume 7.80 m3 7.80m3/5= 1.56m3/room 2 Laundry cycle 2 1 5 1 1 Dirty laundry 1 1 2 5 Washing4 3 Hanging up/Drying 1 4 Folding/Ironing 5 5 Clean washing 3 1 5 Approx. aggregate distance travelled:3 9.63 m 3 Food axis 1.20 m[1 person] 1 Cooking 1 3 2 Washing 3 Pantry 2 Work triangle Dimensions Lighting Arrangement Fitting of 60 x 60 cm modules 4 Work spaces Possible independent work area Possible dependent work area Reproductive work area ››››3›4››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› II. EVERYDAY USES In the same way as spaces, the uses and functions Bon Pastor Phase IV - Building H1 carried out in the home affect its flexibility. This is 42 homes for people affected by urban development due to the failure to allocate specific areas to daily Architects: Alonso, Balaguer, Riera i Arquitectes Associats tasks. The main consequence of this is having to use some spaces for unforeseen activities, causing them to lose flexibility and the ability to adapt them to other uses due to the need to include unplanned activities with suitable quality and visibility conditions. Storage, the functions of the laundry and food cycles and work at home (including productive and other work) must be considered so as to increase the flexibility of the home. As in the previous case, we will look at these functions and illustrate them with some of the projects under analysis. Storage One of the best known 'ideal homes' conceived by British architects Alison and Peter Smithson was the 'Everything in its Place' house4, designed in response to the excessive domestic consumption of the 1990s. The architect team proposed the need to reorganise conventional homes to make room for the various types of storage space needed at the time. According to their work, brooms, party dresses, a set of chairs, a workbench, a scooter, a folding ladder, tools, a bicycle, curtains, tablecloths, an old pram, a folding bed, luggage, shelves, towels, shoes and clothing can take up 22% of the total volume of a house. This accumulation undoubtedly keeps growing, although regulatory requirements still consider storage as a minor function of rooms. The fact that things are stored mainly in bedrooms is not a positive aspect, as it reduces the flexibility of their occupation and even of daily activities. Neither is it recommended from a health point of view to sleep next to storage spaces, as they have been identified as possible sources of allergies. For this reason, storage spaces should 4. Dirk van den Heuvel, Max Risselada (2007). Alison and Peter Smithson. always be in the shared areas of the home. From the House of the Future to a house of today. Barcelona: Polígrafa. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››3›5››››› Configuration By observing the activities that usually take place at home, we can identify the main Conditioned use types of storage required, although subject to adding large spaces or storage rooms that Unplanned activities can be used for any kind of storage. Without reaching the percentage suggested by the Smithson’s, in order to carry out this analysis we have assumed that each inhabitant could need a minimum of approximately 2.5 cubic metres for storage, spread out among the various areas based on function. A good example of planned storage can be seen in the project for Building H1 of Phase IV of the Bon Pastor development designed by Alonso, Balaguer, Riera i Arquitectes Associats. This project envisages a large storage space located in a shared and central area of the home, near the entrance. The amount of storage space is supplemented by wardrobes in the bedrooms and over four metres of kitchen cupboards. It is easy to see how this amount of storage space makes it easier to distribute and store things. Too small Conditioning use Single-person space 0 1 2 m ››››3››6›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Flexibility of spaces 1 Bedrooms 2.77 m 1 2.90m Dimensional hierarchies 1 2 2 1. Clear space dimension 2. Flexibility of occupation 0 1 2 3 4 m 2 Lounge / Kitchen 2 2 1 1 Lounge/kitchen visibility Simultaneous uses 1. Visibility between the kitchen and the main living room 2. Simultaneous use Central nature of the whole 3 Bathrooms 1.32 m [1 person] 1.20 m [1 person] Simultaneous use [1 compartmented bathroom] Simultaneous use [double bathroom] Care use Non-hierarchical use 1. Possible use 2. Restrictions on use 4 Balconies / Terraces 0.90 m [reproductive work use] Habitable space use Storage use Reproductive work use 1. Clear space dimension 2. Area of influence ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››3›7››››› Everyday uses 1 Storage Conflict with enclosure Clothes 4.74 m3 Pantry 0.90 m3 Kitchen utensils 0.90 m3 Cleaning products Waste 0.30 m3 Large 3.34 m3 Total volume 10.18m3 10.18 m3/3= 3.39m3/room 2 Laundry cycle 2 5 3 1 4 1 Dirty laundry 2 Washing 1 3 Hanging up/Drying 5 4 Folding/Ironing 5 Clean washing Approx. aggregate distance travelled: 20.65 m 3 Food axis 1 2 3 1 Cooking 2 Washing 1.50 m 3 Pantry [2 person] Work triangle Dimensions Lighting Arrangement Fitting of 60 x 60 cm modules 4 Work spaces Possible independent work area Possible independent work area Possible dependent work area Reproductive work area ››››3›8››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› The laundry cycle Bon Pastor Phase IV - Building l1 The laundry chain or cycle is the set of stages 55 homes for people affected by urban development and functions involved in the management of Architects: Peris, Toral i Eletresjota Tècnics Associats clothing, including garments, linen and home textiles. Together with the food axis, it can be considered one of the most important sets of household tasks linked to the home. However, many of the activities involved occupy residual spaces and are not adequately provided for. From a legislative point of view, the habitability decree includes not just storage spaces but also spaces for washing and drying clothes. However, a specific allocation of space is not required, which usually means that these activities are not prioritised when designing home configurations. The laundry cycle involves a variety of moments, functions and spaces in the home: from storing dirty laundry to folding, ironing and putting away clean clothes, with the washing and drying stages in between. Various spaces for storing clothes, open areas for drying them outdoors, laundry areas to minimise the routes taken and increase efficiency, and spaces envisaged for ironing or for clothing maintenance work are some of the needs that are rarely fully covered. The analysis aims to identify these failings and interpret the possible solutions in each case. In fact, from among the projects analysed, no proposal that could be considered fully exemplary in meeting all the needs identified was found. However, what we can do is identify a few examples in which some spaces for clothing- related tasks have been taken into account. This is the case of Building L1 of Phase IV of the Bon Pastor development, where the Peris, Toral i Eletresjota Técnics Associados team has provided enough spaces to carry out the tasks included in this cycle. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››3›9››››› Configuration Too small Too small Conditioning of openings Dimensional hierarchies Single-person space Single-person space 0 1 2 m ››››4››0›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Flexibility of spaces 1 Bedrooms 2.55 m 2.40 m 2.00 m Dimensional hierarchies 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 m 1. Clear space dimension 2. Flexibility of occupation 2 Lounge / Kitchen 1.15 m [1 person] 2 2 1 1 Lounge/kitchen visibility Simultaneous uses Central nature of the whole 1. Visibility between the kitchen and the main living room 2. Simultaneous use 3 Bathrooms 1.25 m [1 person] 0.95 m [1 person] Simultaneous use [1 compartmented bathroom] Simultaneous use [double bathroom] Care use Non-hierarchical use 1. Possible use 2. Restrictions on use 2.2 m 4 Balconies / Terraces [reproductive work use] 0.90 m [reproductive work use] 1.9 m [habitable space +] Habitable space use Storage use Reproductive work use 1. Clear space dimension 2. Area of influence ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››4›1››››› Everyday uses 1 Storage Clothes 5.76 m3 Pantry 0.90 m3 Kitchen utensils 0.90 m3 Cleaning products Waste 0.30 m3 Large 3.00 m3 Total volume 10.86m3 10.86m3/5= 2.17m3/room 2 Laundry cycle 3 5 2 1 4 1 Dirty laundry 1 2 Washing 5 3 Hanging up/Drying 1 4 Folding/Ironing 5 5 Clean washing Approx. aggregate distance travelled:2 0.20 m 3 Food axis 1.15 m [1 person] 1 Cooking 2 3Washing 3 Pantry 1 2 Work triangle Dimensions Lighting Arrangement Fitting of 60 x 60 cm modules 4 Work spaces Possible independent work area Possible dependent work area Reproductive work area ››››4››2›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Bon Pastor Phase III - Building E2 - Carrer Alfarràs, 30-38 Food and Passeig Mollerusa, 20 As discussed above, the food axis identifies the 60 homes for people affected by urban development other system of housework-related functions Architects: Lalinde-Labarquilla (project)/Marc Seguí (site management) with the most significant daily implications in the home. This term, which is translated from the concept analysed by American professor Elizabeth Collins Cromley ('the food axis') 5, identifies the spaces and activities relating to food at home. As in the previous case, the route taken by food in the home involves a variety of moments, functions and spaces which usually revolve around the kitchen area. In this case, as this space is covered by specific regulations – which we have also analysed – we should study some aspects of its functions in some detail. When food is brought into the home, it requires specific spaces for safe storage, particularly in the case of fresh food. Two more activities – cooking and washing before and after eating – complete the work triangle. This is the area of maximum functionality, and its dimensions and conditions must be given the fullest possible attention in the design. The connection with the eating area, the kitchen’s size and equipment (6 to 8 modules of 60 x 60 cm each, depending on the number of people living there) and the ability for more than one person to work in it at the same time are other qualitative considerations we have analysed in homes. A project that proposes a very good solution for the functions involved in the food axis is Building E2 of Phase III of the Bon Pastor development, where Lalinde-Labarquilla propose a long kitchen linking the storage and eating spaces by means of a kitchen of variable width and with good lighting that facilitates simultaneous work and provides visibility of the route taken by food. 5. Elizabeth Collins Cromley (2010). The Food axis: cooking, eating, and the architecture of American houses. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››4›3››››› Configuration Partly single-person space Unplanned activities Too small Single-person space Too small Indeterminate space 0 1 2 m ››››4››4›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Flexibility of spaces 1 Bedrooms 2.70 m 2.00 m 1 2.40 m Dimensional 2 hierarchies 1 2 3 3 0 1 2 3 4 m 1. Clear space dimension 2. Flexibility of occupation 2 Lounge / Kitchen 0.95 m [1 person] 2 2 1 1 Lounge/kitchen visibility Simultaneous uses Central nature of the whole 1. Visibility between the kitchen and the main living room 2. Simultaneous use 3 Bathrooms Simultaneous use [1 compartmented bathroom] Simultaneous use 1.20 m [double bathroom] [1 person] Care use Possible second bathroom Non-hierarchical use 1. Possible use 2. Restrictions on use 4 Balconies / Terraces 1.50 m [habitable space use] 0.80 m Habitable space use Storage use Reproductive work use 1. Clear space dimension 2. Area of influence ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››4›5››››› Everyday uses 1 Storage Clothes 5.81 m3 Pantry 0.90 m3 Kitchen utensils 0.90 m3 Cleaning products 0.30 m3 Waste 0.30 m3 Large 6.60m3 Total volume 14.81m3 14.81 m3/4=3.70 m3/room 2 Laundry cycle 3 5 1 2 4 1 5 1 Dirty laundry 1 2 Washing 3 Hanging up/Drying 1 4 Folding/Ironing 5 5 Clean washing Approx. aggregate distance travelled:2 9.28 m 3 Food axis 0.95 m[1 person] 1 Cooking 3 2 Washing 3 Pantry 2 1 Work triangle Dimensions Lighting Arrangement Fitting of 60 x 60 cm modules 4 Work spaces Possible reproductive work area Possible independent work area Possible dependent work area Reproductive work area ››››4››6›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Can Fabra – Carrer Parellada, 9 Work spaces 46 rental homes and premises for Castellers To complete our analysis, we looked at the Architects: José M. Roldán and Mercé Berenguer ability of homes to host work activities. In this regard, we must make a distinction between paid work, which we will call 'productive work', and work that can be considered to be the tasks of everyday life related to the maintenance of the home, its functions or the care of one or more of its inhabitants, which we will call 'reproductive work'. The first case relates to the fact, encouraged by the current labour market, that many professionals can work online without having to travel to a specific work place. Based on the structural configuration of homes, areas that make these activities possible, sometimes independently (without affecting the use of the home), and other times by means of a shared room or space, but temporarily affecting the natural use of that space, can be identified. In the second case, it is a question of identifying the specific areas of the home expressly designed for reproductive activities, such as a laundry area that is closely linked to all the parts of the laundry cycle, a small additional space for maintenance, or even a small facility related to a specific space that enables these functions to be carried out. Some spaces make it possible to identify these areas when they have been designed without fully determining their function. An interesting example of this is the Can Fabra housing project, where José Miguel Roldán and Mercè Berenguer propose an original configuration that adapts to the building's pre- existing constraints. Thus, the spaces as laid out make it possible to interpret areas suitable for independent work in the home (including the possibility of a separate entrance). Areas for housework and reproductive work are also envisaged. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››4›7››››› Configuration Unplanned Bedroom that is suitable activities for other uses Conditioning of pre- existing elements Single-person space Too small Conditioning of pre- existing elements 0 1 2 m ››››4››8›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› Flexibility of spaces 1 Bedrooms 2 1 2.80 m Dimensional hierarchies 2.00 m 1 2 1. Clear space dimension 2. Flexibility of occupation 0 1 2 3 4 m 2 Lounge / Kitchen 2.10 m [2 people] 2.80 m 1 2 1 1 2 1 Lounge/kitchen visibility Simultaneous uses Central nature of the whole 1. Visibility between the kitchen and the main living room 2. Simultaneous use 3 Bathrooms 1.25 m Simultaneous use [1 person] [1 compartmented bathroom] Simultaneous use [double bathroom] Care use 1. Possible use 2. Restrictions on use Non-hierarchical use 4 Balconies / Terraces 0.65 m [reproductive work use] Habitable space use 1.75 m Storage use [habitable space] Reproductive work use 1. Clear space dimension 2. Area of influence ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››4›9››››› Everyday uses 1 Storage Clothes 4.92 m3 Pantry 0.90 m3 Kitchen utensils 0.90 m3 Cleaning products 0.90 m3 Waste 0.30 m3 Large Total volume 7.92 m3 7.92 m3/3=2.64 m3/room 2 Laundry cycle Possible alternative area 3 1 2 1 3 5 1 Dirty laundry 5 4 2 Washing 3 Hanging up/Drying 4 Folding/Ironing 5 Clean washing Approx. aggregate distance travelled: 28.20 m 3 Food axis 2.10 m [2 people] 1 1 Cooking 3 2 Washing 2 3 Pantry Work triangle Dimensions Lighting Arrangement Fitting of 60 x 60 cm modules 4 Work spaces Possible independent work area Possible dependent work area Reproductive work area ››››5›0››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› 04. Summary statistics Flexibility of spaces Everyday uses 1 Bedrooms 1 Storage Dimensional hierarchies Clothing 20/20 00/20 1 14/20 6/20 2 13/16 3/16 Pantry 20/20 00/20 3 10/10 0/10 0 1 2 3 4m Kitchen utensils 18/20 02/20 Bedroom 1 06/20 14/20 Cleaning products 11/20 09/20 Bedroom 2 03/16 13/16 Waste 20/20 00/20 Bedroom 3 00/10 10/10 Large 13/20 07/20 2 Lounge / Kitchen Overall volume 09/20 > 2.5 m3/room 11/20 Lounge / Kitchen visibility 16/20 04/20 2 Laundry cycle Simultaneous uses 13/20 07/20 Dirty laundry 00/20 20/20 Central nature of the whole 14/20 06/20 Washing 16/20 04/20 > 2.8 m > 1.5 m [room] [kitchen] Hanging up/Drying 19/20 01/20 16/20 09/20 04/20 11/20 Folding/Ironing 05/20 15/20 Clean washing 20/20 00/20 ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››5›1››››› Flexibility of spaces Everyday uses 3 Bathrooms 3 Food axis Simultaneous use 02/20 18/20 Dimensions 08/20 12/20 [1 compartmented bathroom] Lighting 10/20 10/20 Simultaneous use 09/20 11/20 [double bathroom] Arrangement 13/20 07/20 Care use 03/20 17/20 Equipment 09/20 11/20 Non-hierarchical use 17/20 03/20 Multi-person > 1.5 m[kitchen] space 09/20 11/20 4 Balconies / Terraces 4 Work spaces Habitable space use 10/20 10/20 Independent work area 04/20 16/20 Storage use 17/20 03/20 Dependent work area 03/20 17/20 Reproductive work use 15/20 05/20 Reproductive work area 16/20 04/20 ››››5››2›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› >>>>>>>>>>>>> the projects analysed. 05. Recommendations We recommend the With regard to the characteristics of the spaces Following a broad look at the results of the analysed based on flexibility, we can identify two analysis conducted in this work, we have reached inclusion of multi- recommendations that summarise the answer to some conclusions that can be translated into use supplementary the failings detected. recommendations to improve flexibility and spaces, whose use reduce hierarchies in the residential configurations can evolve over the Recommendation No. 2: Proposal relating to of new projects. useful life of the dimensions In this regard, we must emphasise the specific The results of the analysis clearly show that the nature of the analysis, which is specifically building. layouts most commonly proposed in projects aimed at residential units. The building as a >>>>>>>>>>>>> coincide with the regulation of minimum surface whole includes critical aspects that have not areas stipulated in the habitability decree in force been analysed here but which have a relative from time to time. This results in great dimensional impact, an impact that isn’t as directly relevant diversity between bedrooms and in kitchen and to the flexibility and hierarchies of space. In any bathroom spaces that are often intended for use event, the architectural approach to collective by a single person with no ability to be shared or housing makes it possible to make configuration used simultaneously. contributions that are beneficial to residential In order to avoid this, we recommend the units. This is why the first recommendation affects inclusion of an additional sheet of technical the building as a whole. specifications in bidding documents defining surface areas in accordance with flexibility criteria Recommendation No. 1: Shared spaces and the removal of hierarchies: bedrooms that are In view of the limited and sometimes very reduced equivalent in terms of surface area and qualities, dimensions of home configurations, the surface kitchens where two people can work and area and functional capacity of a home can be bathrooms that can be divided or converted into supplemented by shared spaces in the building assisted spaces in future; and all this always from reserved for use by its inhabitants. Their uses a housing perspective identified based on the can be varied: compartmented or shared storage number of inhabitants rather than the number of areas, areas for relaxation and leisure, communal bedrooms. outdoor spaces such as an accessible rooftop, or even small co-working spaces or small workshops. Recommendation No. 3: Neutral and versatile This could have multiple benefits. On the one spaces hand, the functional capabilities of the home are The spaces with the least functional conditioning expanded without affecting any dimensions in its are the most suitable ones for individual own configuration. On the other, it proposes uses appropriation by each inhabitant. Regardless that can reinforce involvement in the community of their dimensions, these areas are suitable for and emotional ties between the building’s supplementing any use of the home (such as inhabitants and neighbourhood. work, storage, provisional bedroom or laundry). The feasibility and appropriateness of this We recommend the inclusion of multi-use proposal are demonstrated in the experiences of supplementary spaces, whose use can evolve over institutional housing that can be seen in some of the useful life of the building. In relation to this, ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››5›3››››› we also recommend that its own outside spaces >>>>>>>>>>>>> blueprint designers and users. (balconies, terraces) have adequate dimensions Storage spaces are We can conclude by adding that these for use as living spaces. recommendations can be interpreted as a useful Finally, this set of recommendations can be predominantly tool (that could well be a collaborative and supplemented by two aspects that can improve individually allocated participatory one) during the home configuration the functionality of homes in relation to everyday in bedrooms. They design process. In short, their aim is for the uses. would be much more blueprint designer to identify with the many versatile if they were possible inhabitants based on the virtual and Recommendation No. 4: Spaces for reproductive daily occupation of developments. Å work located in the home’s A large number of the homes analysed lack shared areas, where spaces specifically intended for the laundry they can perform a cycle. Only the drying area, which is governed variety of functions by the habitability decree, is identified in most in a more flexible projects. In relation to this area, a specific surface area should be allocated to the other activities manner. (collection of dirty laundry, washing and ironing) >>>>>>>>>>>>> in order to increase its efficiency and visibility. Storage spaces are predominantly individually allocated in bedrooms. They would be much more versatile if they were located in the home’s shared areas, where they can perform a variety of functions in a more flexible manner. Recommendation No. 5: Identification of functions In terms of the methods used for this report, we looked at housing configurations with a common criterion that permitted the identification of uses and functions. In spite of this, residential floor plans often fail to correctly identify all everyday uses. We recommend the possibility of a requirement for a floor plan identifying all storage devices (up to the requirement of approximately 2.5 cubic metres per inhabitant) and spaces for the laundry cycle and food axis (specifically indicating the work triangle). The aim is not only to ensure the recognition of these spaces by regulatory bodies but, primarily, to use architectural representation also as a form of communication between Interior of a home in the Glòries serviced housing development for the elderly. Facade of the rental and accommodation social housing development at Tànger, 40. CHAPTER ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› 02 Inclusive habitatRethinking spaces to facilitate the socialisation of housework/care work and the integration of all groups from all sources of inequality: gender, origin, age, class and abilities Housing and gender: shall we extend forget that we are all interdependent beings and the kitchen? that, at some point in our lives, we all need each On reading the new requirements of the Barcelo- other (e.g. during childhood, illness or old age). na Councillor’s Office for Housing and Renovation The design of habitats, which includes both hous- for the building of social housing in accordance ing and public spaces, should facilitate the activi- with gender criteria, some architects first raise ties that sustain life and meet the daily challenges their eyebrows and then wonder if the idea is to faced by people, whether they are caregivers or make larger kitchens. the recipients of care. An inclusive habitat inte- The liberal heteropatriarchal culture has given ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› grates all groups regardless of the various sources priority to the market economy and given it pref- Ana Paricio of inequality in our society, such as gender, origin, erential treatment in the public sphere. Mean- Researcher age or different abilities, and adapts times and while, housework and care work – traditionally spaces to their needs. assigned to women – has been devalued, made With the collaboration of The patriarchal model results in a housing de- less visible and relegated to the private sphere.1 Ignacio Paricio, Sonia Ruiz sign that follows the rules of the game and expects and Pep Vivas. By 'housework and care work', we mean objective each unit to be formed by a traditional nuclear tasks such as food or cleaning, as well as subjective family that does not change over time. But the tasks such as emotional and relationship tasks.2 appearance of new family models, new living ar- This dual worldview has conditioned the entire rangements and their evolution over time make it social structure. The classic separation between necessary to rethink the design of homes. the public and private spheres has been called The constant evolution of living arrangements into question by feminists for a long time on the and the search for greater fairness and shared re- basis that it is an exclusive view of 'everyday life'. sponsibility in housework and care work lead to The commercialised view of the world seems to the definition of new spaces to make all kinds of relationships and shared-living units possible. There is a need for greater flexibility of spaces – 1. PATEMAN, C. (1983). 'Feminist Critiques of the Public/Private Dichotomy.' Public and Private in Social Life. S. I. Benn and G. F. Gaus (ed.). New York, meaning the capacity of a space to accommodate NY: St. Martin’s Press, p. 281-303. 2. C different uses at different times – and the removal ARRASCO, C (2001). 'La sostenibilidad de la vida humana: ¿un asunto de mujeres?'. Mientras Tanto, no. 82. Barcelona: Icaria Editorial. of hierarchies in the design of homes – such as ››››5››6›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› those that hide certain uses and exaggerate oth- ers – as well as for the socialisation of these tasks. This article seeks to incorporate feminists’ criti- cisms of the patriarchal and liberal model into the urban habitat. The proposal is to build an inclu- sive habitat that breaks with the private/public dualism and (re)socialises housework and care work. Many housework and care tasks were tradition- ally open to the group and carried out in public spaces and have only recently become individual and private activities. It is a broad evolution pro- Solo cooking cess: these tasks are thus no longer carried out by the group or the shared-living unit but by isolated individuals. For example, the preparation of food and wash- ing of clothes are two activities that were formerly carried out in groups and have now moved into the private and individual sphere. Fire was the centre of many domestic activities, and exchanges and affections flowed around it. The public lavoir was also a very active space in terms of relating to others. These original arrangements have evolved many times throughout history, but they are defi- Group nitely dying with mechanisation and its use by the so-called 'modern movement' which is so influ- ential on the approach to housing and the world cooking of architecture. Le Corbusier, who led this move- ment in the 1920s, saw the home as the 'machine à habiter', minimising sizes and reducing gestures as part of a simplified and functional idea of the occupants' relationship with their environment. centre. And it can’t be two people: they won’t fit. That’s not what it’s intended for. The most ridic- At home, better in a group than alone. ulous situations have been caricatured by films In the kitchen, the rules are clear. Modern archi- showing people trying to work together getting tecture has chosen to reduce kitchen space and their limbs into a knot. The kitchen from Charlotte bring machines and storage spaces closer to- Perriand and Le Corbusier's Unité d’Habitation in gether around a single person that needs to reach Marseille is an example of this reduction. The girl everything without walking. The result is a kind of looks at her mother through a hatch, which is de- u-shaped floor plan with a person working at its signed to place more things within reach. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››5›7››››› 'Laundry cy- cle' space Previously shared laundry Fortunately, a new movement in the opposite the dirty washing and checks it. Depending on direction seems to be emerging. A fairly wide- its condition, he or she sets it aside for sewing or spread option is to place the cooker with perhaps washing, and piles it in a place close to the wash- an attached work surface such as an island or lin- ing machine. He or she washes it and puts it in the ear appendage perpendicularly to the wall. This dryer or on the line. He or she then folds or irons allows two or three people to work on either side it and finally puts it away in each family member’s of this island, or peninsula, at the same time and wardrobe. facing each other. It is a radical change: from per- It would now be difficult to recover the old lavoirs son-centred to work-centred kitchens. where the group socialised and female residents It is all about rethinking food preparation as a exchanged gossip. It is not possible for the whole group activity and designing kitchens as spaces group to stand around the place where clothing is that can host this group activity. washed, but this process can be arranged in a suit- Another troublesome circuit 3 is the laundry cy- able space where any member of the group can go cle. In conventional families, where one person is and drive the cycle. It is a single space that can be responsible for all housework, there is a complex either inside the home or in a communal space, strategy for the laundry cycle. One person collects where dirty laundry is piled, washed, ironed, dried and stored as clean clothing. 3. FALAGÁN, D. H (2016). 'Flexibilidad e igualdad de género'. Qüestions d’Habitatge, no. 19. Barcelona City Council, Councillor’s Office for Housing, p 63. ››››5›8››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› We can’t find a place to meet in the building From this new, broader perspective focused on housework and care work, the home can no longer separate the building from the street. The two spaces now form a continuum that blurs the lines between inside and outside. If we analyse, for example, what is involved in preparing a meal (buying, carrying, storing, pre- paring, dealing with waste, cleaning...) or looking after children (feeding them, accompanying them to and from school, sharing their upbringing), the lines between the private and public spheres become very fluid. In this continuum between the two worlds, communal spaces, intermediate spaces and ground floors are very important for Communal space facilitating the execution of these care tasks and increasing the inhabitants’ quality of life. inside the block Communal spaces inside the building but out- side the home, such as kitchens, living rooms, storage spaces, rooftops with washing lines and corridors, become an extension of the home. Not only do they give us more square metres to use: they are also spaces for meeting and socialising, spaces for sharing housework and care work. These shared spaces also allow reduced size re- quirements within the home. If you can cook or wash clothes in a communal part of the building, perhaps you will no longer need to have these spaces inside your home, or at least their require- ments will be minimal. A private or shared space, such as a bathroom, can also be designed with a separate entrance so that it can be lent or rented out for temporary use. Finally, ground floors open to the street and Another meeting place can be provided by in- linked to the home are a key connection to com- ternal courtyards or communal gardens. A place munity life. When the home also performs other for children to play, for citizens to take a stroll or functions, the domestic activity lends its energy for residents to meet. A good and attractive design to workshops, offices and services.4 Small local of such places will include spaces and facilities to shops, workshops, work spaces and neighbour- meet basic needs: a nearby toilet, a water fountain, hood bars or cafés perform this dual function of seating, good lighting, visibility and accessibility. meeting the residents’ basic needs while provid- ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››5›9››››› Communal lounge in the Torre Júlia development. ing meeting spaces and anchorage points for the Social (re)production activities (such as buying community. food, going to the doctor, looking after children or people who are ill, playing, socialising or being In public spaces, capital or life? involved in the community) should be translated The urban fabric and public spaces are at the into space and time. Depending on how cities or- end of this continuum. Cities and public spaces ganise these tasks and activities, they will be eas- may, by definition and as opposed to private spac- ier or more difficult to carry out and share. At the es, seem open to everyone but, in reality, they are same time, cities will provide citizens, to a greater not always accessible and inclusive.5 or lesser extent, with quality of life. The capital vs life conflict is also represented by cities’ streets and buildings. Big western cities show some symptoms of ex- 4. Habitar, UPC research group (2010). Exhibition 'Rehabitar' ('Las plantas bajas', 4). Ministry of Housing. clusion: children are not allowed to play in the 5. FRASER, N. (1992). 'Rethinking the Public Sphere: A Contribution to the streets, benches disappear for fear of being occu- Critique of Actually Existing Democracy'. A: Calhoun, G (ed.). Habermas and the Public Sphere. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. pied by the homeless, streets are designed to move ››››6››0›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› around and buy things but not to spend time in, and pavements are used for private interests (such as tables and chairs for cafés or advertising). As proven by thousands of years of experience, some compact and diverse Western cities (ones that combine residential buildings, offices, indus- tries and services) work much better for citizens than more scattered cities zoned by activity, which rely on having a car and use up time and resourc- es. Inclusive public spaces make care and repro- ductive tasks compatible because they combine a mix of functions (playing, shopping, socialising or caring for others) and services (e.g. the museum square, the school playground, the library garden, Temporary uses the local shop or the care home for the elderly). Public spaces should cover new and unexpect- for public spaces ed activities beyond moving between places and shopping. An open city should make it possible to hold a party or exhibition on the street, a meet- up for teenagers, a dinner for local residents or a political protest, thus allowing citizens to appro- priate the space. Design is not enough However, the design and planning discussed so far do not guarantee success. This is particular- ly so if by 'success' you mean having a space or housing that results in the socialisation of house- work and care work and to generational and cul- tural exchange. Generalist solutions don’t work. Something that produces good results in a given place or at a given time may not do so later, in an- other place or in different circumstances. People and their relationships are the differentiating fac- tor that cannot be ignored, controlled or predict- ed. The social fabric concealed behind the physi- cal structures is what gives meaning to shared and public spaces. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››6›1››››› Observing this social fabric will improve the results of any habitat-related action. We must collect information on users and the social net- works they belong to and ascertain their profiles, relationships, time and needs. The first option for intervention is the renovation of housing. This is the easiest option, because the shared-living units that inhabit it are already known. In addition, it is the most sustainable option. Another good opportunity for this task is pro- vided by social reports, both in relation to hous- ing and in small urban projects. By going all the way down to the micro scale and collecting both Unplanned quantitative and qualitative physical and social information, we can obtain a better knowledge of the current and future inhabitants and carry out uses actions linked to the territory and the citizens who live in it. Along the same lines, work on the social report was carried out in the terms and conditions of the tender of the Housing Innovation Commit- tee promoted by the Barcelona Municipal Insti- tute of Housing and Renovation. Finally, it is very valuable to incorporate the people living in the shared-living unit into the design and construction process whenever possi- ble. This will be easy with cooperative experiences (such as the one currently being developed by La- col) and more complicated in the case of housing intended to go on the market, but it will always be a good idea to address people's daily needs, the various family units and the ways they inhabit space To the extent that the focus of attention is placed on ascertaining the life processes of the various groups that inhabit and share cities and that we seek to find a way to meet their needs and support them from the point of view of space and time, we could say that we are getting closer to achieving an inclusive habitat. Å Facade of the Quatre Camins serviced housing development for the elderly (Carrer Vista Bella, 7-9). CHAPTER ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› 03 The gender perspective in housing in Spain 1. Introduction planning and housing policies. The following are Discrimination towards women is a cross-cutting the measures relating to access to housing: social problem that demands cross-cutting 1. P ublic administrations’ plans and policies responses. Thus, there is general consensus that on access to housing must include measures political action needs to take gender into account, aimed at giving effect to the principle of equality systematically and in all spheres, in order to between men and women. […] change the structural inequality between men 2. T he Government must, within the scope of its and women that characterises society. powers, promote access to housing for women A variety of forms of discrimination have ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› in situations of need or at risk of exclusion, been described in the field of urban planning Max Gigling and those who have been victims of gender and housing. For example, women are under- Doctor of Social violence, particularly and in either case if they represented in politics and in home development Psychology, housing have any children under 18 under their sole and design. Similarly, urban planning and housing policy researcher. charge. 3. […] fail to adequately meet the needs arising from the everyday reality of women. There is also an obvious need for measures to Regarding access to housing, the law ensures support women who have been victims of gender the full equality of women. In spite of this, there violence, and this necessarily includes priority may be other forms of inequality, particularly in access to housing. the financial arena, as there is still a significant We will now examine the data relating to salary gap between men and women. possible inequalities between men and women in In Spain, under Organic Law 3/2007 of 22 March access to housing outside the more specific field for the effective equality of men and women, of gender violence. housing policies must include measures aimed at enforcing the principle of equality between men 2. Access to housing from a gender and women. perspective Article 31 of the said law specifies the measures The main source of data for assessing differences that must be included in urban, territorial in access to housing is the Survey of living ››››6››4›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› conditions carried out by the National Institute of Fig. 1. Average percentage of income spent on housing, by gender. Spain. Statistics (INE). The data in the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU- SILC), published by Eurostat, is also calculated 16.0 based on this survey. 15.0 The percentage of income spent on housing 14.0 is established in relation to a household's total 13.0 disposable income; i.e. based on the sum of all 12.0 its members’ incomes. In order to carry out an 11.0 analysis based on individual characteristics – 10.0 such as gender or age – this percentage is then 9.0 attributed to each member of the household. For 8.0 example, in a household composed of a couple and a young girl in which housing expenditure 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 accounts for 10% of household income, that 10% is attributed to all three people, regardless Total Men Women of whether or not they have their own income. Source: Eurostat, EU-SILC. Original. This percentage provides a first indicator for the assessment of the conditions of access to housing. If housing expenditure accounts for 40% or more of household income, it is considered Fig. 2. Average percentage of income spent on housing, by gender and high or excessive. The percentage of people in age. Spain, 2016 households with excessive housing expenditure provides a second indicator. Under 18 13.7 13.7 2.1. Housing expenditure for men and women The percentage of income spent on housing 18 to 12 expenditure in the family economy is slightly 64 12.3 higher for women than for men. In 2016, housing expenditure accounted for 12.2% of income 65 9.9 in the case of women and 11.7% for men. The or over 11.3 same difference, with little variation, can be seen throughout the period 2008-2016. Total 11.7 This difference between men and women is 12.2 not evenly distributed in all age groups. Thus, no 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 differences by gender were observed in 2016 in people under 18, and there was a difference of 0.3 Source: Eurostat, EU-SILC. Original. Men Women percentage points between men and women aged 18 to 64. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››6›5››››› A clear difference between men and women can Fig. 3. Difference in the proportion of income spent on housing by men be seen only in the case of people aged over 64. In and women, by age. Spain this segment of the population, in 2016 men spent an average of 9.9% of their income on housing, 20% as compared with 11.3% in the case of women. 18% In other words, women spend 14% more of their 16% income on housing than men. 14% Although these differences fluctuate by year, 12% there was a significant difference between men 10% and women in the over-64 age group in all years, 8% and a small or inconsistent difference in all other 6% age groups. 4% The figures presented so far show the percentage 2% of household income spent on housing. Below 0% is the data relating to the second indicator, 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 which shows the percentage of people living in households in which housing expenditure is an Total Under 18 18 to 64 65 or over excessive burden because it accounts for 40% or Difference, as a percentage, in the average proportion of income spent on housing by men and women. more of household income. Source: Eurostat, EU-SILC. Original. An analysis of this second indicator confirms the above results. In the population of young people and the 18-64 segment, there is no significant Figure 4. Proportion (as %) of households with excessive housing or consistent difference between genders. In expenditure, by gender and age. Spain contrast, for people over 64, the percentage of women affected by excessive housing expenditure 20% is clearly higher than the percentage of men in 18% this situation, for all the years analysed. In 2016, 16% the percentage of women (4.4%) was almost twice 14% that of men (2.3%) in this age group. 12% In summary, a small difference, albeit a 10% consistent one, was found between men and 8% women in relation to the proportion of household 6% income spent on housing. This difference is 4% mainly due to the over-64 group. In the population 2% aged up to 64, the difference by gender is less 0% significant or not consistent. 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Men under 18 Men between 18 and 64 Men aged 65 or over Women under 18 Women between 18 and 64 Women aged 65 or over Source: Eurostat, EU-SILC. Original. ››››6››6›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› 2.2. Household income and quality of housing Fig. 5. Average income per household consumption unit, per gender. The difference between men and women with regard to housing expenditure as a proportion of 16,000 the family economy is small when compared to 14,000 the difference in earnings. For this reason, we have 12,000 examined below whether men and women bear 10,000 similar housing expenditure because they have 8,000 a similar level of household income or whether 6,000 there are indications suggesting that women live 4,000 in lower-quality housing. 2,000 The average equivalent income for men and 0 women is calculated based on the Survey of living conditions. It reflects the household income 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 divided by the number of consumption units of the household and is allocated equally to all its Men Women members. Consumption units (UC) make it possible to compare incomes from households of different sizes and with diffe- A difference in average equivalent income rent compositions, as they take into account the economies of scale of multi-person households. A single-person was found between men and women. But this household is equivalent to one CU. In a multi-person household, each additional person adds 0.5 CU if they are over 14 or 0.3 if they are younger. difference, which in 2016 was 3%, is smaller than Source: National Institute of Statistics (INE), Survey of living conditions. Original. the difference detected between men and women in the proportion of income spent on housing. It seems that the household economy reduces the Fig. 6. Population (as %) living in homes with problems, by gender. differences in income between men and women and therefore reduces the gap between men and 40 women in the proportion of income spent on 35 housing. 30 In addition, the various housing quality 25 indicators assessed don’t show any differences by 20 gender. 15 Thus, a very similar percentage of men and 10 women live in homes with problems such as leaks, 5 damp in walls, floors, ceilings or foundations, or 0 rot in floors, window frames or doors. In 2016, 15.8% of women and 16.0% of men lived in homes 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 affected by problems of this type. The percentage of men and women living in Men Women homes that were too small was also very similar. Problems are deemed to include structural issues such as leaks, damp in the walls, floors, ceilings or foundations, In 2016, 5.5% of women and 5.3% of men lived in rot in floors, window frames and doors. homes with insufficient space for the household. Source: National Institute of Statistics (INE), Survey of living conditions. Original. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››6›7››››› Finally, no difference in overall satisfaction Fig. 7. Population (as %) with insufficient living space, by gender. with housing was found either. This aspect was included in a well-being module of the 2013 10 Survey on living conditions. 8 Average satisfaction with housing in 2013, on a 6 scale of 0 (not at all satisfied) to 10 (fully satisfied), 4 was 7.3 for both men and women . 2 In summary, the indicators assessed show no 0 signs of differences between men and women in the quality of housing. 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 3. Specific groups: elderly people, non- Men Women emancipated young people, single- Source: National Institute of Statistics (INE), Survey of living conditions. Original. parent households After examining access to housing for all men and women, three specific groups are analysed below Fig. 8. Population aged over 64 (as %) with excessive housing expenditu- from a gender perspective: elderly people, single- re, by gender. parent households and young people. 12 3.1. Housing expenditure for elderly men and 10 women 8 The data has shown a difference in the percentage 6 of income spent on housing by men and women 4 over 64. Below is a more detailed analysis of the 2 situation of this segment of the population in 0 order to establish the possible reasons for this difference. 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 The possible reasons include, on the one hand, the significant differences in pensions between Man aged 65 or over living alone Woman aged 65 or over living alone men and women and, on the other, the higher Source: National Institute of Statistics (INE), Survey of living conditions. Original. proportion of women over 64 living alone. According to Social Security data from 1 April 2018, the average pension for women over 64 is According to data from the Survey of living Ð729.52, 37% less than for men of the same age, conditions, there is indeed a difference between which is Ð1,152.55. male and female single-person households for This pension inequality on the proportion of people over 64, with women spending a higher income spent on housing should result in visible proportion of income on housing. In 2016, the differences in single-person households in proportion of women living alone with excessive particular. In the case of households composed housing expenditure was 7.8%, as compared to of a couple, both pensions contribute to housing 4.7% in the case of men. expenditure. ››››6››8›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› On the other hand, there is a higher proportion Fig. 9. Single-parent households, by adult’s gender of women over 64 living alone. Since the burden of housing expenditure is greater in single-person 2,500,000 households, this uneven distribution results in an increase in the average burden for the women's 2,000,000 group, which is not due to a difference by gender but to the size of the home. It is thus a statistical 1,500,000 effect rather than a difference by gender. Both factors (the difference in pensions and 1,000,000 the statistical effect due to the higher number of female single-person households) must be 500,000 taken into account when explaining the different proportion of income spent on housing by gender. 0 There are undoubtedly other factors at play too. In terms of gender policy, it would be interesting 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 to examine in greater detail the possible discriminatory effect of pensions on access to Men Women housing for women over 64. Source: National Institute of Statistics, Ongoing Household Survey, sample for one year. Original. 3.2. Access to housing by single-parent households Over 80% of single-parent households are headed Fig. 10. Population (as %) with excessive housing expenditure, by type of by women, and data from the last five years does household, in 2016. not suggest that this imbalance is changing. It is Adult aged under 65 living alone 29.1 therefore a group that must be taken into account when analysing access to housing from a gender Adult aged 65 or over living alone 6.8 perspective. Adult living alone with dependent children 25.9 In 2016, the percentage of the over-16 Two adults, both of them under 65 12.8 population with excessive housing expenditure living in single-parent households (25.9%) was Two adults, at least one of them aged 65 or over 2.5 only surpassed by the proportion of single-person Two or more adults with dependent 9.4 households in this same situation (29.1% ). children 3.8 Other households 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Source: National Institute of Statistics (INE), Survey of living conditions. Population aged 16 or over. Original. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››6›9››››› There was a similar percentage of people with Fig. 11. Population with excessive housing expenditure, by type of house- excessive housing expenditure in single-parent hold. households and in single-person households 40 under 65 for all the years examined. 35 On the other hand, no clear or consistent 30 differences were found between men and women 25 living alone. This result contrasts with the clear 20 salary gap between men and women, which 15 should be analysed in greater depth. 10 Another aspect that is directly related to 5 housing expenditure is overcrowding. The highest 0 percentages of space shortages affect people living in households with dependent children, 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 including both single-parent households (8.7%) and households of two or more adults with Man under 65 living alone Woman under 65 living alone dependent children (8.4%). Adult living alone with dependent children Total population aged 16 or over Thirdly, people living in single-parent Source: National Institute of Statistics (INE), Survey of living conditions. Population aged 16 or over. Original. households are more likely than any other type of household examined to live in homes with structural problems. In 2016, this situation affected 20.8% of people living in single-parent households with dependent children. Fig. 12. Population (as %) with insufficient living space, by type of house- Finally, single-parent households have a lower hold, in 2016. average equivalent income than any other type of Adult aged under 65 living alone 2.8 household. Adult aged 65 or over living alone 0.2 Adult living alone with dependent children 8.7 Two adults, both of them under 65 1.1 Two adults, at least one of them aged 65 or over 0.3 Two or more adults with dependent children 8.4 Other households 5.1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Source: National Institute of Statistics (INE), Survey of living conditions. Total population. Original. ››››7›0››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› In summary, single-parent households Fig. 13. Population (as %) living in homes with problems, by type of hou- suffer from a combination of higher household sehold, 2016. expenditure (which is typical of single-adult Adult aged under 65 living alone 15.3 households) and a higher frequency of shortage of space (more common in households with Adult aged 65 or over living alone 13 dependent children). Adult living alone with dependent children 20.8 This is compounded by the fact that the Two adults, both of them under 65 13.3 homes of single-parent households are in worse condition and that their households have the Two adults, at least one of them aged 65 or over 11.2 lowest incomes. Two or more adults with dependent children 17.6 There are certainly other difficulties that particularly affect these households, such as Other households 16.1 greater difficulty combining work with childcare. All this clearly points to the need for public 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 authorities to pay particular attention to single- Source: National Institute of Statistics, Survey of living conditions, 2016. Total population. Original. parent households. However, regarding access to housing, it would be interesting to examine in greater detail the specific characteristics of the housing situation Fig. 14. Average income (as %) per household consumption unit, by type of single-parent households in order to design of household, 2016. more suitable policies. In particular, the lack of data has made it impossible to compare the Adult aged under 65 living alone 13,419 housing expenditure of male- and female-led single-parent households. However, given that Adult aged 65 or over living alone 12,013 no significant difference by gender was found in Adult living alone with dependent children 9,454 the under-64 population, we cannot rule out the Two adults, both of them under 65 16,569 possibility that the proportion of income spent on housing is also similar for men and women in the Two adults, at least one of them aged 65 or over 14,376 case of single-parent households. Two or more adults with dependent children 12,890 In this case, it might be more appropriate for housing benefits not to be given to female-led Other households 15.041 single-parent households but to single-parent households as a whole, such as through a housing 0 4,000 8,000 12,000 16,000 policy aimed at low-income households. These Source: National Institute of Statistics, Survey of living conditions, 2016. Original. benefits would automatically help a higher number of women than men heading a single- parent household, because most single-parent households are headed by women. A benefit policy focused on female-led single- parent households would risk creating better ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››7›1››››› conditions for women than for men heading a Fig. 15. Average annual earnings per worker, by gender and age, in 2016. single-parent household. In addition, it would create an incentive for women to head single- 30 21,175 parent households, which would go against a to 34 17,398 broader gender equality perspective that aims to balance the number of men and women at the 25 16,907 head of a single-parent household. to 29 14,794 3.3. The emancipation of young people 20 12,641 from a gender perspective to 24 9,746 According to the available data shown above, 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 almost no differences in housing expenditure were found between young men and young women. Source: INE, Annual Salary-Structure Survey, 2016. Original. Women Men However, the salaries of young women are lower than those of young men, which should affect their possibilities of emancipation, shown, for example, by women leaving home later. Fig. 16. Children living at home, by age, in 2017. However, according to the data provided by the Active Population Survey, daughters leave their 0 to 9 parents’ home earlier than sons. The following graph shows that, after the age of 20, the number of daughters living at home falls more rapidly 10 to 19 or, in other words, the percentage of sons with respect to daughters increases. Despite lower income levels from work, 20 daughters therefore leave home earlier than to 29 sons. This result shows the need to examine the emancipation of men and women from a gender 30 perspective in greater detail. to 39 4. Summary and proposals going 40 forward or over The analysis of the differences between men and 0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 3,000,000 women regarding access to housing and remaining in such housing is considerably complex. Source: INE, Active Population Survey, 2017. Original. Women Men First, the household should be considered as the unit of analysis in order to establish relative housing expenditure, even though this expenditure is then applied individually and ››››7››2›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› attributed to all members of the household. To a >>>>>>>>>>>>> have excessive housing expenditure, a lack of great extent, this necessary use of the household The difference in space or problems with the home. as a unit of analysis blurs income inequalities However, we could also consider it more between men and women. housing expenditure appropriate to meet these households’ housing We must also take into account other factors as a proportion of needs from the point of view of a housing access that are closely linked to housing expenditure, in income between policy aimed at low-income households. These particular age and type of household. men and women benefits would automatically help a higher By analysing access to housing for men and over 64 appears to number of female-led single-parent households, women, we can see that housing expenditure as which are the most common ones. a proportion of the family economy is slightly reflect both their A housing access benefit policy focusing on higher for women than for men. In 2016, housing pension inequality female-led single-parent households might result expenditure accounted for 12.2% of income and a statistical in better conditions for women than for men at in the case of women and 11.7% for men. The effect caused by a the head of a single-parent household. This could same difference, with little variation, can be seen create an incentive for women to head single- higher proportion of throughout the period 2008-2016. parent households, something that goes against An examination of a variety of housing quality female-led single- the broader gender equality perspective that aims indicators (problems with the home, lack of space, person households. to balance the number of men and women at the satisfaction) does not show a difference in quality >>>>>>>>>>>>> head of single-parent households. in the homes inhabited by men and women. In the young people group, the data examined An analysis by age shows that the differences does not suggest any greater difficulty accessing between men and women with regard to housing housing for women than for men. The obvious expenditure are mainly found in the over-64 contradiction between this result and the fact that group and is barely noticeable in the over-18 or young women have lower income from work than 18-to-64 groups. men shows the need to further study the housing The difference in housing expenditure as a access situation of young men and women. proportion of income between men and women In general, it can be stated that the data over 64 appears to reflect both their pension examined provides a fixed image of the situation inequality and a statistical effect caused by a of women with regard to access to housing but higher proportion of female-led single-person fails to capture the evolution that has led to households. There are undoubtedly other factors this situation and that may conceal a history of at play too. The above results suggest that this discrimination. For example, it may be that the group should be included in a housing access residential journey of women is determined by policy designed from a gender perspective, the need to compensate for insufficient personal although they also suggest the need to further income by associating with another person more analyse the situation in order to provide a suitable than it is for men. Å policy. Women head more than 80% of single-parent households. The data shows a clear need for public authorities to pay particular attention to such households, of which a significant percentage ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››7›3››››› The Glòries serviced housing development for elderly people is composed of three connected buildings. CHAPTER ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› 04 'The Housing Community', blurring the lines between public spaces, collective places and domestic activities Presentation The essence of the firm is the joint CIERTO ESTUDIO is a team of six constantly conceptualisation of proposals and their experimenting young architects who work in the development in smaller teams in the framework fields of architecture, design, culture and research. of a fully horizontal structure. This helps us The study is a joint proposal in which various 'infect' each other to achieve the best results, both visions merge into a very personal project. Th e aesthetic and functional. team, founded in Barcelona in 2014, is composed of Marta Benedicto, Ivet Gasol, Carlota de Gispert, Background Anna Llonch, Lucía Millet and Clara Vidal. 'The housing community' is the proposal of Cierto Estudio and architect Franc Llonch that won the first prize under the 'Illa Glòries' tender, with the ensuing commission of the urban planning for the complex and the construction of one of the four project units composing the block. The residents’ associations were involved in the tender, which was international and received about a hundred bids, as members of the jury. The other three winners were the team formed by the firms Haz Arquitectura, Bayona Valero Arquitectes Associats, Cantallops Vicente Arquitectes and Ensenyat-Tarrida Arquitectes; the tandem formed by Pau Vidal and Estudio Vivas Arquitectos; and the Sevillian firm SV60 Arquitectos. The exceptional nature of the tender demonstrates that changes in the way housing is conceived are taking place. Even the public administration has included new criteria in its approach to future developments in line with ››››7››6›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› current social models. The diversity of family circumstances clearly results in different living styles and arrangements, and architecture must be able to meet the needs of the current times. Local urban planning Housing is not built only from the inside out: it is also built through the city and the urban spaces Plaça dels Encants it provides. The transition between public and private spaces provides a broad range of situations ranging from the most exposed spaces to the most intimate ones, and shared spaces must take a more prominent role in today's cities. This group of homes is designed as an urban Urban landscape transition block such that its residential status does not preclude it from taking an urban role that is relevant to the city. The design thus gives continuity to the consolidated weave of L’Eixample while generating a new frontage on Avinguda Diagonal Plaça de les Glòries, as well as providing several degrees of intentional permeability in its contact with the street. At urban level, a new pedestrian crossing crosses the block and extends an emerging route that starts on the Diagonal and ends at the main entrance to Els Encants market. Secondly, new passageways provide access to two large communal courtyards protected from public view and for the use of residents, providing an entrance hall to the buildings’ core areas. While these passageways are for residents, they are still part of the urban façade of the complex and blur the lines between public and collective spaces. In addition, their balanced arrangement results in a natural split of the ground floor, where small and medium-scale commercial activities are carried out. On the other hand, the block’s configuration, which brings four project units together in a single complex – unitary in volume but heterogeneous ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››7›7››››› their position and orientation, the rooftops are either used for solar power panels and technical elements or reserved for the use and enjoyment of residents, with vegetable patches and leisure and relaxation areas. The walkways, somewhere between a community space and the home environment, have been given generous dimensions and the best orientation in order to promote their use. The role of walkways as a collective balcony means that they are watched by everyone while respecting the privacy of the homes thanks to the gaps that make it impossible to get too close in the composition of its parts – itself helps to the inner façade. Far from forming a linear contribute to a pluralised idea of the city. The route, the walkway expands at the entrances to contact between housing developments that the homes, where the kitchens come out to meet share patios, entrances, walkways and rooftops it. This highlights the importance of the home creates a rich and cohesive community in its environment in the community. From now on, diversity. Finally, all this melting pot of urban relationships described above, both domestic and The footbridge, the communal terrace collective, is conveyed with the building’s façade, which reveals its status as a container of urban Shared kitchens and barbecues biodiversity. Vegetable gardens Communal laundry area and washing line area When collective spaces meet domestic Photovoltaic solar panels spaces Garden rooftop Pursuant to our commitment to collective Partly shaded south-facing porch area housing, we propose a home entrance strategy Large, two-storey p flexible trading fto that fosters a community feeling. As explained in roored cov e the urban strategy, the two courtyards shared by Reinforced the four project units can be accessed from the concrete slabs (infrastructure) on 3 levels adjacent streets and the urban landscape. The Natural lighting and Bike racks ventilation for relationship between the various developments the car park that share leisure spaces with benches, children's play equipment, bike racks, etc. through the e courtyards is thus promoted. Relationships pcandsa floor n la un d between neighbours are also encouraged by rbe u groTh Car e park means of large walkways that connect all the ntra nce residential floors to each other, regardless of Three cores for every two plots of land Door-to-door each development’s occupancy regime, and lead waste collection to the development’s rooftops. Depending on ››››7›8››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› this outside space is part of the home too: it is a place to eat, read, chat or relax. The conquest of common spaces has begun! A dynamic housing aggregation system A dynamic housing aggregation system has been designed in order to accommodate a variety of living arrangements and meet the changing needs of society. 'The Housing Community' project is based on a blank slate of rooms where, conceptually, the limits of each flat are not pre- established and several different layouts are possible. Thanks to the duplication of entrances and the room addition approach, each floor of the building can have a different configuration regarding the number of bedrooms per home. Configurations are thus not fixed: the simple action of opening or closing a door results in a new configuration. Although this adaptability is inherent in the residential structure of the project, it is also true that the legal and regulatory situation makes it much more difficult to put into practice. Housing as a series of rooms without a hierarchy Society has evolved and broken with the monopoly of the traditional nuclear family. There are currently many more realities that have moved away from conventional patterns, such as single- parent families, independent elderly people, young people leaving home late or sharing flats, and many more. The home must provide a sufficiently flexible and comfortable starting point to adapt to the relevant circumstances. 'The Housing Community' homes are based on a simple design which, among other things, aims to break with stereotypes and common hierarchies. It aims to provide versatile homes that can adapt to the tenants’ changing needs in a simple and reversible way. ››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››7›9››››› As shown in the diagrams, spaces are arranged and connections multiplied, by means of a square divided into four parts with a central connecting room placed at a 45° angle. The south façade contains the kitchen and the entrance, giving dignity to spaces that are usually condemned to a lack of natural light or ventilation. We believe that there must be quality in every space. The serving space (kitchen, bathroom, laundry area, etc.) requires the same good conditions as the space served (such as living rooms and bedrooms). Household tasks occupy a significant proportion of the time spent at home, and it makes no sense to carry them out in unhealthy parts of the home. 'Ironing while looking out the window becomes a much more pleasant task than doing so relegated to a tiny room without natural light'. We propose that the kitchen should be located on the south façade and that it should have one of the best views in the home. Thanks to its position, it enjoys the long view that crosses the flat, goes through various spaces and looks out on two sides: the walkway and the street. An open-plan kitchen is part of the other spaces and activities of the home. This is one of the main changes to this new approach to housing. The kitchen is a room that is significant in itself: it is not a just bar attached to the living room due to lack of space. In spite of this, it is not isolated but connected directly to another shared space in order to promote companionship of any kind. ››››8››0›››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››››› The structure of the home is composed of a series of interconnected and connecting rooms. The central connecting room's position in the middle of the home confers independence on the rooms it surrounds. The connections at the intersections make it possible to multiply the connections and views diagonally and result in an independent room, an appendage to the home that promotes flexibility. This is an opportunity to lend freedom to another space that is part of the home as a whole, a tool to generate new modern nuclear families that will gradually become more conventional. It is a resource of the home that can meet the needs of late home leavers, freelancers working at home, those who are only there at the weekend or shared flats where the independence of a room can be Barcelona are more than half the time, it guarantees a crucial to the success of the living arrangements. certain degree of comfort from a temperature point of Removing hierarchies between bedrooms is view without the use of additional devices. another key aspect of the project. The ambiguity We propose that the structure of our project and equivalence of bedrooms is relevant. The unit be made of wood. This is one of the key desire to find a suitable surface area for both points in the reduction of the ecological footprint living rooms and bedrooms makes it possible for of the construction of this building. Using wood different functions to fit in the same space. This as a structural material reduces the building's blank slate allows each person to decide how to overall weight and the size of the foundations. use the space available, maximise the number of It also results in a significant water saving in bedrooms, reserve a room for working at home, the construction work, which is carried out have a playroom for children, set up a dressing using the drywall method. In addition, rubble is room or, in summary, be flexible and adaptable in minimised as the drywall is cut in the factory, and a reversible manner. the construction is completed in a shorter time. It has many benefits for the environment and its Energy and environmental strategy durability is guaranteed. We propose a comprehensive and global The project, which is complex and unique, can environmental strategy. The project addresses become a model for development in a variety four main areas: energy efficiency, the water cycle, of aspects: the construction of a development the life cycle of materials and the health standards designed by two people, the incorporation of the of the building. gender perspective, the application of sustainable One of our aims is for all homes to go through the reference solutions and the break with many entire building (they reach both sides). This allows their deeply rooted ideas. As blueprint designers, we inhabitants to look in opposite directions from inside want to ensure the architectural quality of homes, the flats and enjoy the sunshine from two different the comfort of the people who will live in them orientations. In addition, in the hot seasons, which in and the aesthetic harmony of the whole. Å ISSN 2462-4152 22 9 772462 415005