Caguas, Puerto Rico (2012)
Winner: 2013 Premio Obra CEMEX
This development provides high-quality, affordable housing with supportive services. Because of the enclosed courtyards, the residents can feel safe to raise families, flourish, and feel proud of their living environment. At the same time by increasing the density of the existing site, both the downtown commercial businesses and new residents will benefit from each other’s presence
The design for this urban block includes a total of 94 apartments arranged around an interior courtyard. The ground floor level provides community services, lobby areas, a daycare center, on-grade courtyards, a parking garage for 89 spaces and four affordable housing units. On the second (courtyard) level, the apartment units are arranged around the interior courtyard. The total construction area of the project is 110,322 square feet.
The courtyard is to provided to secure, passive recreation space, and area for casual encounters between the residents. It gives residents a place to gather and build a sense of community.