Given that almost 50% of the complex will be self-built, this building is porous so that the growth can
occur within the structure. On one hand we want to frame and give rhythm (more than control) to the
spontaneous construction so as to avoid deterioration of the urban environment over time, and also
make the process of expansions for each family easier. The proposed continuous roof above the volumes
and voids protects the expansion zones from rain and ensures a definitive profile of the building toward
the public space.
All the apartments have direct Access from
▼Project Details the public space and parking, a condition
especially relevant in a country where every
Project Mission/Goal: Improve the human spirit
family can have access to an automobile.
Location: Santa Catarina (Monterrey), Mexico
Architect: Alejandro Aravena(ELEMENTAL)
Year: 2008to 2010
Client: Institute de la vivienda government office
User Client: Low Income groups
Number of units: 70 housing units
Cost per Unit: US$20,000 ▲The space below staircase is utilised. ►As shown, the garden doesn’t give that
Site Area: 6592 sq m freespace kind of experience; so if there
would have been a partition, two divided
spaces could have been used efficiently.
Further, if the arrangement of the units
would have been done at an angle and
with little spacing between them, the
climatic barrier could have been
overcomed.
◄The placement of each unit is
done close to each other, the
cluster forms a rectangle. Now the
▼Climate major issue here is the hot and
Monterrey has a semi-arid climate. It is one of the warmest major cities in Mexico. Summers humid climate and the units are
are generally hot, spring and fall temperature, and winters mild, with temperatures rarely so closely packed to each other
below freezing. Rainfall is scarce in winter, but more frequent during May through September. that cross ventilation is restricted
Monterrey frequently experiences extreme weather changes. to some extent and when a single
house is expanded, ventilation is
almost nil.
►Cross ventilation provided in the living
room.
◄Partitions preferred between the
kitchen and living areas to block the
cooking smell .
►The living area looks visually spacious
as partitions are avoided.
►Concept of incremental housing
The Monterrey housing takes on the “half house” concept that ELEMENTAL pioneered in the
Chilean city of Iquique.
The idea is that the basic house is provided for residents who then expand and adapt their ◄Too long single flight staircase
property themselves. used to access the first floor level.
The building contains a continuous roof that covers the structure and the voids. ◄Use of elevators would be
All the apartments have direct access from the public space and parking, a condition preferred.
especially relevant in a country where every family can have access to an automobile. ◄Covered staircase would be
preferred as there is frequent rain in
this particular region.
Each individual unit has a house below
and an apartment above. ELEMENTAL
Monterrey consists of a three-storey
continuous building that in section
superimposes a home (1st floor) with a ►Cross ventilation preferred in the
two-storey apartment above(2nd &3rd kitchen and the bedrooms.
floor). Both units are designed to
technically and economically facilitate the
final middle class standard. This building
is porous so that the growth can occur
within the structure. On one hand we ◄Provision of staircase right at the
want to frame and give rhythm to the entrance blocks the vision of the
spontaneous construction so as to avoid area..
deterioration of the urban environment
over time, and also make the process of
expansions for each family easier.
