The SFJ6 project, located in the heart of the Vallecas neighborhood in Madrid, is a model of sustainability in affordable housing, offering an innovative solution that addresses both the urban and private scales. The 102 units are designed to maximize limited space without compromising the residents’ quality of life, allowing for cross-ventilation, access to expansive views, and connections to the outdoors through balconies and terraces. The building’s architecture promotes this outdoor extension, creating a continuous relationship between interior spaces and the surrounding urban environment.
On the street level, the SFJ6 project redefines urban integration with spaces that foster social interaction and revitalize the community fabric. The building, designed as a folded volume, adapts to existing structures and the complex topography, creating multiple points of visual and physical connection with the surroundings, injecting fresh energy into the neighborhood. Additionally, the varied heights and the setback of the top two floors add dynamic movement to the building’s profile, while large windows, designed to look more expansive, reduce the perceptual scale and create a more welcoming, human environment.
In the common areas, the project enhances community life by incorporating vegetation and thoughtfully selected sustainable materials. The interior plant-filled courtyards, along with the use of natural wood, earthy plaster, and traditional ceramics in contrast with living greenery, generate a warm and inviting atmosphere, transforming these areas into places for socialization and well-being. The result is a space where materials enhance the sensory experience, fostering a strong sense of community and belonging among residents.
