Residing in Barcelona’s El Poblenou neighbourhood, an industrial area where the city plans to integrate new housing and urban parks, this social housing project requested an urban cemetery and beekeeping. The diverse programmatic requirements were combined with a community garden and farmer’s market to create a circular economy that supports death and life.  

The massing is comprised of three identical housing blocks to capitalize on pre-fabricated construction techniques to reduce cost and construction time. The heavy timber exoskeleton frees the interior partitions to enable future adaptability, communicates the project’s sustainable ethos, and allows for inspiring double-height spaces in the units. Horizontal wood slats and guardrails adorn the front of the buildings to encourage the residents to grow plants, provide shade in Barcelona’s hot summers, and serve as an acoustic barrier.      

The cemetery below grade features a series of intersecting arches reminiscent of Spain’s vernacular brick-laying architecture. Challenging the notion of a conventional cemetery, the guests are asked to expand on their understanding of death as it relates to their nucleus family and see the similarity in all forms of life. Brick arches, water, rocks, and sunlight replace conventional plots to satisfy this philosophy while supporting increasing urban density.

Nominated for Publication in Building 22

Featured in CASA showcase