Experimental

The proposal for the Hans Isler housing complex in Lousada is developed on a site located between contrasting urban contexts: Rua Palmira Meireles to the north, Rua do Parque Industrial to the south, and Travessa do Pinheiro Novo to the west. This transitional condition calls for a response that operates at both the local and urban scales, treating public space as a continuous system rather than a residual void between buildings.

The strategy is based on fragmenting the programme into two independent volumes: a broken bar to the south/west, which follows the industrial perimeter, and a smaller bar to the north, designed to consolidate a future urban frontage. This separation avoids built barriers and opens up the interior of the block, allowing for both visual and physical permeability.

Between the volumes, a structuring public space is defined: a square with a playground, urban gardens, and a fountain — functioning as both entrance and place of encounter. This shared void subverts the usual logic of internalisation, fostering a sense of community life.

The proposal responds to the housing demand in the area by maximising the site's built capacity within regulatory limits. The strategy accommodates a significant number of dwellings while balancing density with urban quality, through a fragmented layout that ensures ventilation, permeability, and programme diversity.

The project presents itself as a proposal that combines efficiency, collective appropriation, and long-term urban presence with environmental responsibility.