Block of apartments in Madrid

Abstract

This building occupies a site of 1990 sq. ms, and includes 29 apartments distributed in a semi ground floor, five standard floor levels, an attic and a double attic. The services have been located in a second basement, and the ground floor and first basement are being devoted to commercial uses, such as shops. In order to provide more free space for the commercial zone, the beginning of the stairs and the entry to the lifts is situated on the semi ground floor level. The porter's quarters, refuse reception cubicle and porter's hall have also been placed at this level. The basic nuclei of the apartments are clearly separated into zones daytime living quarters, night quarters and services. It is noteworthy that passages have been largely eliminated, and circulation problems have been otherwise solved, avoiding to some extent the crossing of the main lines of human circulation. The area devoted to social life has been increased as far as possible, and its environment has been enlarged by means of balcony-terraces. The fine aesthetic quality of the building, in its external aspect, is largely due to the clever way in which the materials have been used, exploiting their textures and combining these harmoniously.