Modulus Matrix by Peris + Toral Arquitectes wins the RIBA International Prize

Radical social housing in Barcelona wins RIBA International Prize for world’s most transformative building 

‘A matrix of identical rooms’ is how Marta Peris and José Toral of Peris + Toral Arquitectes describe their social housing project of 85 homes in the Cornellà district of Barcelona. But what is remarkable is the variety contained in that grid. The six-storey courtyard housing is much more than a rational approach to using timber frame construction. Its urban form instills neighbourliness and pride in the residents, says the RIBA citation for its shortlisting. Galleried access looks inward, private balconies outward.

The citation continues: ‘There is somehow a looseness of fit, giving flexibility within the home.’ The loose fit of room sizes also gives a chance to challenge stereotypes and norms within the home, say the architects. We asked Peris and Toral four simple questions to understand the process of design behind this housing and offer an idea of the possibilities of replicating this configuration in future housing.

Can you outline the design process for this project?

This project originated from a public competition in 2017 and operates within a tight budget due to its social housing programme. The design concept was based on a conceptual reflection that began with Marta Peris’s PhD, which explores the Japanese home through the films of Yasujirō Ozu. We adopted a modular system of interconnected rooms with multiple doors, typical of Japanese architecture, as the central axis of the design. The design process lasted four years, from the competition to the completion of the construction, facing additional challenges posed by the Covid pandemic.

What were the main architectural priorities?

The primary architectural goal was to create a typological proposal that would adapt to the challenges of the 21st century, aiming for a democratic house. To achieve this, we proposed changing the aggregation unit from the dwelling to the room. We designed a matrix of identical rooms measuring 360x360cm, about 13m², interconnected in enfilades, without corridors. By eliminating the corridor and making the rooms equal, there is no hierarchy within the house. Movement is not canalised but filtered; the parents’ room is no larger than the children’s, which allows for adaptation to new family types beyond the nuclear family. Equalising the spaces also provides flexibility and adaptability over time as their uses are easily interchangeable.

What was the most challenging aspect?

Proposing a new way of living also implied a new way of building. We chose a mass timber structure as a renewable natural resource due to its low emissions and ease of industrialisation. Among the challenges of wood construction were addressing acoustic insulation between neighbours, fire resistance of the structure, water resistance, and optimising the structural solution to minimise the use of wood volume to reduce the cost. All these aspects were resolved economically and efficiently.

Which part of the project has been most successful? 

The greatest success of the project has been observed in the users’ reception of the homes. Innovations  have been successfully adopted, such as access via a terrace, movement through filtration between rooms in a house without corridors and placing the kitchen at the centre of the house to make domestic work visible and thus combat gender roles. These features have proven to be effective alternatives to traditional housing models.

As told to Eleanor Young

Modulus Matrix has been shortlisted for this year’s RIBA International Prize along with Lianzhou Museum of Photography by O-office Architects and Jacoby Studios by David Chipperfield Architects. The winner will be announced on 27 November 2024

International Emerging Architect Award 2024

Alongside the International Prize, RIBA has also announced the winner of the International Emerging Architect Award 2024. ARCity has been named the winner for their project Six Bricolage Houses. The award is given in recognition of those making a significant contribution to the field of architecture who have been practicing for 10 years or less.

The RIBA citation explains: The project, in Nantou Ancient City in Shenzen, China, is a curated scheme of self-built houses which breathes new life into the ancient streets of Nantou. The architects selected six self-built houses by villagers for micro-updates and modifications which provide architectural delight alongside a pioneering model for urban renewal. The architects focused on mixing various functions into a traditional “handshake building” typology, preserving the existing social structure and spatial characteristics of the urban village through joyful design, using new and old together. Variously, the houses introduce cantilevers to open up traditional plan forms, employ simple methods such as partial cutting of walls or conversion of floor structures to create more space, introduce natural light to living spaces, and engage inside with outside spaces. All modifications focus on providing enhanced living conditions for inhabitants whilst making a positive contribution to civic public realm in this complex urban rural mosaic. The citation concludes that it is 'A unique and pioneering model for urban village renewal'.

Architecture Zhang Yuxing + Han Jing, ARCity Office explained the inspiration from the fusion of the modernist plan and spontaneous growth in the existing urban village. 'This fusion gives rise to a “contradictory unity” composed of various elements such as old and new, heritage and life, poverty and prosperity, ruins and construction, wilderness and artificiality, everyday life and monumentality. 

'In this project, we strive to demonstrate that this “contradictory unity,” actively designed by architects, not only creates delightful mixed-use spaces and civic public realm but also possesses the greatest potential for sustainable growth from the very beginning. Perhaps this represents a new paradigm for future cities and architecture - what we call “Bricolage Architecture”.'