A MULTI-RESIDENTIAL PROJECT IN PORTUGAL DEMONSTRATES THE FLEXIBILITY AND INNOVATION AFFORDED BY PRECAST CONCRETE.
The client brief for the project, which is located in the Norte region of Portugal, included quick construction turnaround, multipurpose profile and a cost-effective solution.
Designed by Portuguese architectural studio Summary, the complex comprises a ground floor with a program for multi-services connected to the public space, topped by six, 45-square-metre mini-apartments.
Used as the structural material used throughout, the precast concrete has been left exposed and unfinished, minimising cost and construction times, while also keeping the environmental impact to a minimum. The architects used prefabricated slabs and structural panels in the external perimeter of the ground floor to ensure flexibility, meaning it’s possible to add or remove compartments or designate the whole level as open space. All components were factorybuilt and quickly assembled on site, jointly acting as structure, insulation and cladding elements.
The project was designed and approved as a multi-housing building, essentially forming a horizontal apartment block however, as the compartments are all separate, they retain many of the benefits of freestanding houses: separate entries and comprehensive noise protection between the units. ■