Architectural Cases

In an era where individuals frequently relocate for education, career prospects, or temporary assignments, the concept of “home” is undergoing a significant transformation. As co-living gains traction among students, young professionals, and other transient groups, a fundamental question emerges for architecture: what should a private dwelling truly offer when long-term residency is no longer the norm? This shift necessitates a re-evaluation of housing design, moving beyond mere shelter to create environments that facilitate adaptation and belonging in unfamiliar places, even for short durations. The functionality expected from an apartment for a year differs vastly from one intended for a lifetime, regardless of similar dimensions.

This evolving landscape has prompted architects to innovate, reconsidering the traditional boundaries between private and communal areas. Three exemplary projects—Salva46 in Barcelona, Ulisseia in Lisbon, and Dozen Doors in Madrid—each offer distinct yet compelling answers to this challenge. These designs emphasize adaptability, social integration, and the fluidity of space, demonstrating how contemporary living solutions can cultivate a sense of home that is both temporary and deeply connected to its inhabitants' transient needs.

Adaptive Architectural Solutions for Transient Living

The changing demands of a highly mobile society have spurred architects to develop innovative housing models that challenge conventional notions of private and shared space. The Salva46 project in Barcelona exemplifies this by introducing a dynamic boundary between individual units and communal areas, allowing residents to reconfigure their living environment daily. Designed by MIEL Arquitectos and Studio P10, this 65-square-meter apartment is ingeniously divided into two independent units, each with essential private amenities like a bed, desk, and shower. The shared core, centrally located, hosts communal functions such as the kitchen, dining area, and social spaces. Sliding partitions enable residents to expand their private units into the shared core during the day for daily activities, then retract them at night to restore privacy. This fluid design fosters a sense of home that is continuously rebuilt, emphasizing adaptability over permanence and catering to residents who seek flexibility without sacrificing comfort or community.

Further pushing the envelope, Ulisseia in Lisbon, designed by Atelier JQTS, reimagines a converted industrial warehouse as a versatile living and cultural hub. This project features private rooms arranged along the original structure, distinct from a cluster of circular common spaces that become more intimate further from the main entrance. The building's function shifts based on its use: private rooms open into these common areas for overnight residents, but when used solely for cultural or commercial events, the rooms close off, allowing the communal spaces to function independently. This adaptability ensures the building serves various purposes while still functioning as a temporary home for its residents, who may not require traditional permanence. Even the smallest private rooms, equipped with their own toilets and skylights, subtly connect occupants to the building's larger shared structure, promoting a sense of communal existence within individual spaces. This design acknowledges that for mobile inhabitants, a building's ability to transform and adapt to immediate needs is more crucial than offering a fixed, traditional home.

Cultivating Community in Shared Living Environments

In Madrid, gon architects' Dozen Doors project takes the concept of shared living to an extreme, demonstrating how extensive communal spaces can foster community among temporary residents. This initiative transforms a single-family house into accommodation for twelve university students, all enrolled in a one-year master's program and sharing similar departure timelines. Here, private rooms are deliberately minimalist, providing just enough space for sleeping, personal hygiene, and study. The deliberate reduction of private amenities—such as kitchens or dedicated guest areas—pushes residents into shared zones like the communal kitchen, dining room, living room, and game rooms. This architectural strategy, linked by a central staircase that integrates private and shared spaces on each floor, doesn't merely encourage interaction; it necessitates it. By limiting private options, the design subtly compels residents to engage with one another, fostering a communal atmosphere and a sense of household among individuals who might otherwise remain strangers, bound only by a shared, temporary residency.

These three projects—Salva46, Ulisseia, and Dozen Doors—collectively illustrate a deliberate departure from rigid architectural norms concerning private and shared spaces. They challenge the notion that “home” requires a fixed, permanent structure. Salva46 empowers residents to redefine their living boundaries daily, offering flexibility and personal control. Ulisseia demonstrates how a building's very identity can fluctuate, serving as a residential space one week and an event venue the next, adapting to diverse demands. Dozen Doors, through its intentionally limited private areas, promotes a strong, if somewhat enforced, sense of community among its transient inhabitants. While none of these solutions are without their complexities—Salva46's effectiveness relies on resident engagement, Ulisseia's residential function can be superseded by other bookings, and Dozen Doors' reduced private space could be perceived as restrictive—they all fundamentally reshape how we perceive and design for temporary belonging. They collectively assert that a meaningful sense of home can thrive within compact, transient, or collectively inhabited environments, provided the design authentically supports the resident's needs for the duration of their stay.