gon architects transforms single-family residence into vibrant shared student house in madrid

vibrant shared housing project in madrid

gon architects has transformed an early 21st-century single-family house in madrid, into a co-living environment for university students. situated within the multicultural neighborhood of tetuán, the five-story building is characterized by a flexible program articulated around a vibrant central staircase. bright pops of color bring life to the otherwise minimalist, all-white interior, generating a lively environment for the young occupants.

all images by imagen subliminal (miguel de guzmán + rocío romero)

diverse public spaces facilitate interaction

the renovation by gon architects (find more here) has resulted in an urban interior, dedicated to accommodating people united by similar life positions that favor coexistence, while at the same time leaving space for the sphere of individuality. to this end, the general organization of the built volume, conceived both in plan and in section, is organized around a staircase strategically placed in the center of the building, which, while establishing the vertical circulations of the co-living, distributes and organizes horizontally both the common and private spaces.

the project features diverse indoor and outdoor communal spaces distributed throughout the building, where different types of equipment are shared. on the ground floor, there is the communal kitchen, dining room, and living room where occupants can watch TV together, as well as a game room in the basement, where the laundry room is also located. in addition, the south-facing terraces allow the residents to relax and sunbathe while enjoying views over the madrid skyline. on the fourth and fifth floors, passing through each of the landings on each level, more unexpected interactions can take place. these public spaces are projected as indeterminate places that facilitate encounters and conversation.

bringing locals closer together

unlike the common spaces, the private rooms are projected as variations of the same type — they are all the same and at the same time different. the rooms are designed as places where the personal world of each student can evolve. in 10-12 sqm they contain all necessary amenities, including a bathroom, a sleeping and a studying area. bold colors are partially applied to each interior to differentiate these areas from the rest of the room and hierarchize them spatially.

dubbed ‘dozen doors’, this residential project seeks to generate an environment that promotes harmonious coexistence and social dialogue. the flexibility of the design allows occupants to be active and evolve both in a social, and a private context. in the multicultural neighborhood of tetuán, this shared house can help increase bring locals closer together, while contributing towards building a cohesive community with strong bonds.