University Residence in Elviña, A Coruña

This project aims to integrate both functionally and architecturally a university facility into a forgotten rural environment. Considering what already exists, it integrates a building that seeks the recovery of a place that has been attacked by uncontrolled urban growth.

The development of the project has been carried out based on different points that have a direct influence on the building and its surroundings. Positioning, building scale vs. environment, integration vs. needs program, access, accessibility, and topography, views vs. sunshine, activities vs. interior-exterior relations. After analysing the built environment, the conclusion is that fragmentation and small scale are key to the successful project integration. As a project strategy, the starting point will be to set volumes with similar dimensions to those existing, based on the predominant topographical order. This solution will result in a fragmented project that attempts to achieve a formal assimilation with the built environment. Once the action strategy is clear, and with the necessary parts defined, we try to integrate the project in the best way possible. To this end, it is intended to assume the alignments of the elements of the plot by adapting the position of the volumes of the building to it. Finally, the communication spaces are designed so that they can sew, both vertically and horizontally, the volumes of the residence allowing an internal relationship between the different parts. To configure the residence volumes, a base module or room unit was used. It establishes dimensions similar to two existing volumes, 7 x 6.5 m. on the floor, and two or three heights when facing the road or the side of the slope. This module will be used to solve the building both functionally and technically.