CO-RRIDORS

Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Medellín

Project idea

The project seeks to consolidate a diverse neightborhood life through collective corridors and terraces that integrate the different ways of life between them, as well as with the surrounding landscape.

Project description

The urban configuration of the project intends to do the least possible impact over the urban grain, by only occupying the areas inside the block which not only have the biggest opportunity regarding urban connections, but also a lower density. This way, the residential complex leaves a couple of existing residences in the southern side of the lot.

These existing buildings aren't just simply preserved, but are also integrated into the new proposed urban dynamics, and this is achieved through the creation of an internal alleyway connected to two pocket parks, which responds to the urban tranfers demanded by the local urban regulations and diversifies the way the block can be traversed. But most importantly, creates the posibility to open new facades in the back of the existing buildings towards the alleyway, and creating a whole new active ground floor.

The aferomentioned alleyway, Callecita de la Buena Mesa (Good Food Alleyway), as its name implies, is directed towards a culinary commerce or culinary plinth, composed of restaurants cafes and others services as such. This with the intend to created and activity that promotes a more permanent stay on the site by users, as well as to create an economic activity in which both existing and new residents can take part of, and be financed with. Thus a circular ecosystem is created, in which the food sold by the stores in grown in the orchards located on the adequated roofs of the existing buildings, that are fertilized by the composters located on the roof of the residential building and is finally fed by the organic residues of the inhabitants.

The residential project itself emphasizes on the recovery of collaborative neighborhood life, hence the spatial composition revolves around long, wide corridors and terraces. Which not only serve as meeting places, but act as a way to bring the urban life on the street vertically into the building, creating a dynamic space in which the residences can even open their facades in order to create productive zones, like small stores and service offices, or deliberately open their terraces to have a meeting with his neighbor while contemplating the priviledged view that the building provides.

Technical information

Total area: 1711.78 m2
Floor count: 11 (2 basements)
Residences: 32
The project is composed of a steel structure, alongside a brick masonry working as the main enclosure.
It also utilizes the use of large glass doors installed on aluminium profiles, laminated wood floors for interiors and ceramic floors for exteriors.