A team of designers from Peru has come up with a concept that allows home users to convert their adjoining terrace space and two additional rooms. The team of designers includes Santiago Raul Nieto Valladares Arquitecto, Arana & Suasnabar Architects, Yuri Amed Aguilar Chunga, and Keuson Saldaña Ferreyra. Their modular housing system concept allows for residents to easily add extra interior space according to their budget and spatial needs.
The base and central core of each house are made of concrete, while its terrace that surrounds the exterior is made of wood. Each modular home is equipped with the essential needs of every family including a kitchen, a bathroom, plumbing, and electricity. If the family would need additional rooms such as bedrooms and a living room, they have the option to add walls onto the terrace to form extra rooms.
In an interview, the architects explained that the design was made to be flexible and customizable for the various needs of each family.
Each homeowner can also choose the finishing material which makes it very economical and easy to build. This also means that homeowners could even add a second floor if they wish to.
The 2017 Build to Grow Competition organized by the Peruvian Ministry of Housing has awarded its first prize to this proposal. The competition called for concepts and new housing solutions for a plot of land in one of the districts of Iquitos. Several entries were then submitted by a number of design teams that showcased different methods to promote flexible ways of living. The team has bested over 300 entries that poured in from all over the world.
Other than taking home the top prize, the team's proposal also won an honorable mention in the eco-sustainable category.
The winning team explained that Peru housing is usually characterized by monotonous and fragmented social housing neighborhoods. Their design moves away from this usual concept while still promoting socialization among the residents because of the public space in between each housing unit.
The plot of land for the project is located in Belen, Peru where most of its 65,000 residents do not have access to clean water, electricity, and proper housing. A total of 120 incremental housing units were proposed for the parcel of land located at the edge of Iquitos City.
The 2017 competition-winning project has recently been featured in Dezeen x MINI LIVING series, highlighting the project's innovation in design. However, reports of development have not been collected.
