elisa valero completes experimental apartments in granada

in the spanish city of granada, local architect elisa valero has completed eight experimental residences, organized around a shared terrace. positioned at the end of a narrow street in the city’s historic jewish quarter, the new building responds to the site’s uneven terrain with a design that is embedded into the graduated topography.

all images by fernando alda

as with many of her previous projects, valero has once again used a brilliant white finish to clad the building, adding a variety of plantation found within the scheme’s enclosed courtyard. the surface of the terrace is perforated with small holes, which allow rainwater to drain through. at specific places, the openings change size, forming areas for small trees and other vegetation to be planted.

the development is positioned at the end of a narrow street

all eight apartments are different and tailored to the needs of each resident. using ELESDOPA, a recently patented double-wall system, concrete has been used as both structure and enclosure for the building’s walls, floors, and ceilings. a continuous insulation method, as well as the orientation of the architecture, significantly reduces energy costs.

eight experimental residences are organized around a shared terrace

from the street, the scheme conforms to the vernacular style of the historic neighborhood. the structure appears as a monolithic white wall, punctured with carefully positioned apertures. inside the courtyard, on the south-east and south-west façades, the windows alternate with other larger openings. as the garden is at a lower level than the pedestrian access, ground floor houses have views of the adjacent sierra nevada mountain ranage and the city’s rooftops.

the surface of the terrace is perforated with small holes