Casa Bloc, Rationalist residential building in Sant Andreu, Spain
Casa Bloc is a rationalist residential complex in Sant Andreu featuring five interconnected blocks arranged in an S-shaped form that house a total of 207 apartments. The entire structure applies modern design principles with optimized air circulation and abundant natural light throughout each unit.
This housing initiative began in 1932 when the Catalan regional government launched the project to address a severe housing shortage driven by industrial workers moving into Barcelona. The effort emerged during a period when the city needed rapid solutions to meet growing demand for affordable dwellings.
This complex represented an effort to improve workers' daily lives through modern design principles and shared communal spaces throughout the building. The layout shows how architects of that era thought about enhancing social interaction through thoughtful spatial organization.
Individual apartments range from 55 to 77 square meters (590 to 830 square feet) and feature distinctly organized areas for daily activities, two bedrooms, and several window openings for light and air. Access to the units happens through shared stairwells designed to encourage interaction among residents from different sections.
One apartment functions as a museum, displaying original furniture from the 1930s including hydraulic flooring and foldable doors from the era of the Second Spanish Republic. This preserved space offers visitors a direct look at how daily life was organized during that period.
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