A groundbreaking social housing development in Barcelona is redefining traditional living spaces through an innovative design that deliberately avoids defining room functions. The project, called La Comunidad Habitacional or "The Room Community," features 51 residential units designed by local architecture firm Cierto Estudio as part of the larger Illa Glòries housing development in Barcelona's urban renewal district, completed in 2024.

The 8,700-square-meter, U-shaped building stands out with its bold color palette of pastel green exterior walls contrasted by vibrant red awnings, window frames, and doors. The structure features a concrete-framed ground floor filled with brickwork that houses commercial spaces and shared areas specifically designed for children and elderly residents. The residential apartments occupy the floors above, each designed with square, "non-hierarchical" floor plans divided into four equal rooms that residents can use as they see fit.

According to Cierto Estudio, this unique approach to apartment design aims to "promote equity" by eliminating the concept of a main or dominant space within the home. "The ambiguity and equivalence of the rooms allow different functions to unfold within the same space," the architectural firm explained. The studio further emphasized that "by integrating the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry area into the social fabric of both the home and the community, the design challenges traditional gender roles and encourages shared participation in household responsibilities."

The innovative floor plan centers around a square bathroom space positioned at the core of each apartment, rotated 45 degrees so that each corner forms a dividing wall. Along the southern edge of the building, one quadrant of each apartment extends into an entrance area lined with kitchen units that overlook the communal access decks outside. Small terraces project at 45-degree angles from the north side of each apartment, creating dynamic facades that animate the building's exterior.

The building's design prioritizes community interaction through its thoughtful layout and shared spaces. Large access decks and balconies, highlighted by the signature red awnings, are strategically positioned to overlook a spacious semi-public courtyard around which the housing is arranged. This courtyard is one of two located at the southwestern end of the Illa Glòries development and serves as what Cierto Estudio describes as "a climate refuge where neighbors share leisure and care."

The sense of community is further enhanced by broad, south-facing walkways that connect individual homes to a communal rooftop garden described as "a verdant oasis that helps counteract excessive urban heat." These walkways function as collective balconies, serving as shared spaces while maintaining privacy through strategic setbacks in the inner facade. The design creates multiple layers of community interaction, from intimate apartment spaces to shared corridors and ultimately to the communal rooftop.

The building's interior design maintains the project's philosophy of equality and flexibility. The pale green render used on the exterior is carried throughout the communal spaces, complemented by green and terracotta tiles. Within the apartments, a predominantly white color palette emphasizes the angled walls and spatial divisions, while pale wood and tiled floors add warmth and texture to the deliberately neutral spaces.

La Comunidad Habitacional has gained recognition in the architecture community, earning a spot on the longlist in the housing category of the Dezeen Awards 2025. The project represents part of a broader trend in Barcelona's social housing development, joining other recent innovative projects including a bold red-colored development by MIAS and Coll-Leclerc Architects, and a building by DataAE and Xavier Vendrell that dramatically balances on a steep site overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. These projects collectively demonstrate Barcelona's commitment to reimagining social housing through creative architectural solutions that prioritize both community building and individual flexibility.