COLLECTIVE HOUSING BUILDING WITH SHARED SPACES IN CARTAGENA

How can collective housing respond to contemporary challenges while integrating into a transforming urban fabric? Set on the outskirts of a regenerating city, this project explores housing as a mediator between urban expansion and existing communities. It seeks to develop a comprehensive approach while addressing a key issue: how housing can tackle social and environmental challenges while respecting local identity, becoming both integrative and integrated within its surroundings to strengthen community bonds and enhance public space.

This project emerges from extensive research into both the site and collective housing. A detailed study of Cartagena’s historic center, particularly Monte Sacro, revealed key challenges: a lack of social cohesion, underutilized public spaces, and the need for adaptable, sustainable, and affordable housing. An analysis of collective housing typologies informed strategies to enhance flexibility, community interaction, and environmental performance. Located within a protected historical area, the proposal merges tradition with contemporary needs. The design respects Cartagena’s architectural identity through natural stone, lime stucco, and wooden shutters while integrating modern sustainability principles. A modular grid structures the floor plan, generating equal-sized rooms that enhance flexibility and allow spaces to adapt to changing family needs. The double-module layout improves lighting, cross-ventilation, and efficiency while balancing heritage with innovation. Homes are accessed via gallery walkways that function as semi-public spaces, encouraging interaction. Wide glazed entrances with folding shutters integrate homes with these communal areas. The ground floor hosts shared facilities, extending private living spaces, while the rooftop features a communal garden for urban agriculture. Sustainability strategies include rainwater collection, passive cooling, and renewable energy sources. By blending historical continuity, modular efficiency, and ecological responsibility, the project redefines collective housing. Its adaptable, cost-effective design ensures affordability for both residents and developers, fostering a resilient, community-driven model that integrates seamlessly into its urban and cultural context.