Our Estranged Spaces

What would a spatial arrangement of the dwelling look like, if it was not based on the maximum usage of space and the determination of its use? Is it possible to think of the dwelling as of “Terrain Vague” that allows a spatial uncertainty in which our definitions and our spatial ways of being must be reformulated? Is it possible to think of the apartment as of a place where the relationship between human and space can be discovered and then hope that an alternative space can generate an alternative human existence/society?

The project applies Ignasi de Solà-Morales’ concept of Terrain Vague, which challenges the perception of emptiness and instead frames these spaces as latent fields of potential. The ambivalence—between void and content, neglect and vitality—suggests the possibility of systemic alternatives yet to be defined. The diploma thesis explores whether the openness and vagueness of these voids can inspire alternative forms of housing and co-living. The proposed building is conceived as a structure in a state of permanent incompleteness, with the possibility of vertical expansion through the gradual extension of its core. This core represents the minimum necessary intervention on a site otherwise strictly protected. It serves as both a structural axis and a gravitational center—a point of stability anchoring the microcosm of the house. At the same time, it reflects a minimal societal consensus about what is fixed and permanent. Towards the periphery of the building, however, the potential for variability, interpretation, and negotiation grows, embracing a higher degree of entropy and fluidity. Vertical circulation is designed with future adaptability in mind. The core contains only an elevator, while the staircase is shifted to the exterior, integrated into a scaffold-like structure. This external scaffolding allows future modifications to vertical connections, enabling the redefinition of spatial and functional relationships within the house. The interior layout rejects the modernist logic of strict functional zoning. While a standard bathroom cabin adjoins the core, the rest of the living spaces are left undivided. It is up to the residents to discover, define, and fill these spaces with life—both within the house and on the adjacent terraces and scaffolding.