The Illa Glòries development is designed to house 238 residential units across four distinct building sections labeled A, B, C, and D, with each section designed by a different architectural firm. Building A was designed by Barcelona-based Cierto Estudio, who also took responsibility for the master plan of the entire complex. The firm designed 51 apartments distributed across approximately 8,700 square meters of floor space.
The U-shaped building structure serves as the ensemble's closure toward the intersection while creating an enclosed inner courtyard. Three open passages at ground level visibly connect the courtyard to the urban space, creating a design that is permeable yet clearly defined. The building's most striking design feature is its zigzag facade, characterized by a delicate green stucco finish, red window frames, and movable sun protection elements.
Behind this distinctive exterior lies an equally rational and flexible floor plan concept. The apartments are based on a grid system of equally sized squares, with four squares forming one unit. Added to this systematic approach are volumes rotated 45 degrees that appear to have been tilted out of the main system. These rotated volumes are positioned centrally within the floor plans and project outward from the facade. Internally, these angled spaces typically house the sanitary core and kitchen areas while creating varied views, corners, and niches throughout the living spaces.
This innovative spatial geometry enables individually customizable apartments. The rooms are not predetermined as bedrooms or living rooms but can be freely combined and connected according to residents' needs. The circulation system follows this same flexible thinking: gallery walkways on the south and east sides extend the apartments outward, function as meeting zones, and are also characterized by the rotated room elements.
The residential offering is supplemented by communal spaces designed for activities such as childcare and elderly care. The green roof is also accessible for residents' use. Structurally, the building is organized as a hybrid construction: the concrete and masonry base accommodates commercial units, while the six to seven floors above are constructed from prefabricated cross-laminated timber.
The budget for the entire Illa Glòries ensemble is reported at 45 million euros, with 11.6 million euros allocated specifically to Building A. Building C in the complex was designed by Vivas Arquitectos and Pau Vidal, demonstrating the collaborative nature of this significant urban development project.
This social housing project represents Barcelona's innovative approach to addressing its housing crisis through thoughtful architectural design that prioritizes both functionality and community building. The development's integration with the transformed Parc de les Glòries demonstrates how urban planning can simultaneously address housing needs while contributing to the city's green infrastructure and public space network.
