This housing community is designed around a series of interconnected outdoor spaces that shift the focus from a traditional urban street frontage to a more internalized communal experience. The project prioritizes the creation of an “interior world” within the development, fostering a new typology of urban living that integrates private and communal outdoor spaces. Inspired by Venice’s canal neighborhoods, where residents transitioned from public-facing yards to more private courtyards, the design emphasizes a balance between public urban spaces and private outdoor sequences.
The streets within the development are primarily pedestrian pathways, transforming them into communal backyards and front yards for residents. Only one street allows limited vehicular access for parking, while the rest are dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists, reinforcing a walkable, outdoor-oriented community. Terraces and balconies are strategically positioned to engage with these pedestrian streets, promoting an outdoor culture and enhancing the connection between public and private spaces. The design reshapes the typical urban fabric by shifting neighborhood streets toward communal courtyards, defining new boundaries that allow the front yards to contribute to the urban landscape.
Outdoor spaces, including terraces and central courtyards, are reserved for residents, offering a more intimate environment than large, exposed front yards. Housing units, ranging from studios to four-bedroom apartments, are distributed across the upper floors, with each unit enjoying access to outdoor spaces. The design integrates landscape and public open spaces as essential components of the living experience. The building’s exterior reconciles with the surrounding urban context, but as one moves deeper into the development, the level of domesticity and intimacy increases, reflecting the project’s emphasis on reorienting urban living.
A public terrace on the first floor serves as a new ground level, providing semi-private and private spaces for residents. The sectional quality of the building, with its vertical and horizontal connections, enhances the flow between terraces and units, while curved corners soften transitions, creating a more integrated and fluid spatial experience.
