Experimental

The proposal for the municipal building of the Local Integration Unit, in the parish of Alcântara, responds to the urgent need to create dignified housing for people in vulnerable situations, families at risk of becoming homeless, and individuals already experiencing homelessness. The intervention combines a social approach with a clear urban strategy, filling an existing gap in the block and completing the residential fabric with two complementary volumes: a main one to the east and a smaller one to the west. Between them, an urban slit marks the entrance to the complex from Rua Feliciano de Sousa.

The architectural solution adopts a principle of modularity and prefabrication, aimed at efficient, rational, and economically viable construction. The structure is composed of prefabricated concrete columns, beams, and hollow-core slabs arranged on 8-meter grids, allowing for optimized production, reduced waste, and faster assembly. In transition areas, staircases, and points of structural discontinuity, solid reinforced-concrete slabs are used to ensure additional rigidity.

The repetition of structural and construction elements is reflected in the organization of the façades and interior spaces, reducing costs and construction time. This modular system enables flexibility of use and future adaptations without compromising the building’s integrity. The hollow-core slabs, combined with transverse load-bearing walls, ensure high structural performance, thermal and acoustic comfort, and the possibility of incorporating technical infrastructures already during the prefabrication stage. The result is a building light in expression, clear in structure, and rigorous in execution.

This contemporary approach responds with high technical and architectural quality to the challenges of affordable housing: energy efficiency, reduced environmental impact, low maintenance, and rapid construction — actively contributing to a fairer and more inclusive city.