Collective Housing, Lacol Architecture's Solution to the Housing Crisis

Barcelona is leading the way in handling the housing crisis. The city government restricts tourist apartment permits and promotes alternative housing models, including collective housing. Despite having the highest number of tourists each year, the government is already tackling gentrification to address the impact of tourism on housing. Lacol Architecture of Sants, Barcelona, contributes by creating community infrastructure that supports sustainable living and eco-social transition through cooperation and participation. 

Gentrification is the process of transforming areas that lower-income groups once inhabited into areas that are more attractive to higher-income groups. While it brings economic benefits, it can also aggravate social and economic inequities in urban areas. It is a challenge in big cities because it triggers a housing crisis and a lack of efficient solutions. It makes it difficult for people to find housing due to rent increases and displacement of local communities, thus turning traditional neighborhoods into tourist consumption areas.

Collective Housing by Lacol (cr: Llucs Miralles)

Lacol responds to the collective problems in communities with cooperative housing design and construction. Lacol has three fundamental pillars in planning this housing including: 
1) collective housing that supports interaction between neighbors; 
2) sustainability to ensure environmental quality and lifespan, minimizing environmental impacts and energy costs; and 
3) active participation of users throughout the project process, so that they can consciously manage and maintain the space as needed. 

Collective Housing by Lacol (cr: Llucs Miralles)

“For us, this last point is one of the key vectors that guides our design. We understand sustainability primarily through occupant engagement, which seeks to reduce energy and material demand and consumption, both during the conception and use of the building.” said the Lacol team in an interview with Archdaily. 

Collective Housing by Lacol (cr: Llucs Miralles)

Collective Housing by Lacol (cr: Llucs Miralles)

Lacol said that architecture can contribute to the housing crisis in big cities, especially Barcelona, by creating more exclusive housing. Housing is aimed at creating more affordable, sustainable, and inclusive housing rather than supporting speculation. According to him, housing should focus on use value rather than being a financial product asset for tourism.

The first cooperative housing project appeared in Local's previous project, La Borda, which responded to the Can Batlló area. Lacol was attracted to the cooperative housing model because he wanted to challenge the idea that solutions to the housing crisis could only be achieved individually.Cooperative housing could be a more effective architectural solution than focusing on individual approaches.  

Collective Housing by Lacol (cr: Llucs Miralles)
 
In their work process, Lacol prioritizes a horizontal and collaborative team structure. Although one or two people manage the project, the process is highly collaborative among all members. Ensuring all team members contribute and every team member feels represented. Lacol is comfortable with cooperative housing projects be workingo with a group has been collaborative from the beginning, from finding land or buildings to formulatinproject’s basic needs project.

Cooperative housing is housing that is more in line with the needs of the community as prospective residents. It is not influenced by market logic or preexisting ideas, creating housing that can be adjusted over time. 

Collective Housing by Lacol (cr: Llucs Miralles)

Collective Housing by Lacol (cr: Llucs Miralles)