Viviendas en la M-30, Social housing complex near M-30 highway, Madrid, Spain
Viviendas en la M-30 is a residential building with a curved semicircular form that runs along the M-30 highway perimeter. The facade is covered with small perforated ceramic tiles arranged in a continuous pattern, while inside the units are arranged as stepped duplexes accessed through internal hallways.
Architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oíza designed this complex between 1986 and 1989 to house residents of informal settlements. The project was part of Madrid's effort to provide permanent housing and improve living conditions for displaced families.
The development shows how Madrid addressed housing needs for working-class families during the 1980s through organized communal living. The curved layout and ceramic exterior reflect the era's approach to providing dignified homes for people who previously lived in informal settlements.
The building sits directly along the M-30 highway and is easy to spot from the road due to its distinctive curved shape. Since it is private residential housing, visitors can mainly view and appreciate the architecture from the exterior.
The perforated ceramic tiles on the facade serve both aesthetic and practical purposes, reflecting light and protecting the building from weather exposure. This functional design shows how Oíza combined beauty with everyday practical needs.
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