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The idea of equal-sized rooms comes from the Japanese house, where rooms don't have a defined use; any activity can take place in any space, and vice versa. The dimensions of these rooms are related to the tatami mat. We chose the eight-tatami room, as its size offered the flexibility needed to adapt to 21st-century lifestyles. The timber construction is connected to this Japanese reference and to a sustainable dry construction method, which is reinforced by the entire façade solution featuring corrugated metal sheeting.
The building relates to the urban environment through a sequence of intermediate spaces. On the ground floor, a portico filters the relationship between the public space and the communal courtyard. The four vertical circulation cores are located at the four corners of the courtyard, so that all residents converge and meet in the courtyard-plaza, creating a safe space from a gender perspective.
The lightweight facade plays with texture and transparencies, to which the corrugated sheet metal adds depth and a play of light and shadow.
The coated metal was chosen for the dry construction method, its ease of installation creating a ventilated façade with a module that matches the floor-to-floor height, its low maintenance, and the greater strength provided by its corrugated geometry. The interplay of corrugated, perforated, and smooth sheets allows for the perfect balance between privacy, durability, and connection with the exterior.
The project sets a new benchmark in sustainability, pioneering the use of timber and a radically efficient spatial design. This approach slashed construction time, on-site waste, and water consumption compared to traditional methods.
Central to its design is a matrix of interconnected, equally-sized rooms that eliminates the corridors. This innovative layout maximizes usable living area on a smaller footprint, thereby reducing the material required per home. The design is complemented by a low-maintenance, ventilated metal façade that further boosts thermal performance.
The project's approach to sustainable architecture has garnered numerous international accolades, including a finalist position for the 2022 Mies van der Rohe Award and winning the prestigious RIBA International Prize.
Modulus Matrix is a social housing project that proposes an alternative way of inhabiting based on indeterminacy. Its defining characteristic is a matrix of communicating, equally-sized rooms (13 m²) inspired by the Japanese 8-tatami room. This layout eliminates corridors and the traditional hierarchy of spaces, redistributing surface area to create larger, more flexible rooms. A key strength is its porosity; each room has at least two doors, creating multiple circulation loops that enhance the perception of space and adaptability. This design, with terraces on both sides of the dwelling, provides highly effective cross-ventilation, crucial for Barcelona's summer climate. The project also fosters a strong sense of community, as a single entrance forces residents to converge in a central courtyard that functions as a bioclimatic and social hub. Homes are accessed via terraces overlooking this patio, transforming circulation areas into spaces for interaction and enhancing the perception of security. Shared spaces like a rooftop garden further extend community life beyond the private home. The result is a home that is flexible, continuous, and deeply connected to its community
