Vita Student Residence in Barcelona

The Vita Student Residence is in the Pedralbes neighborhood of Barcelona, in a privileged environment. A central location, next to several prestigious universities, surrounded by green spaces and at the foot of Collserola mountain range. The building organizes its 9,213 m² and 274 rooms into three interconnected volumes with a ground floor and four floors. The design of the residence promotes a new way of living, with rooms designed and equipped to enjoy total privacy complemented by common spaces and services that encourage community life and relationships between students. The volumetric organization of the complex frees up a sizable space on the plot, respecting the existing trees and providing the building with quality outdoor spaces in contact with nature. The most outstanding common area is the large garden inside the plot, where there is a swimming pool, an outdoor amphitheater, a barbecue area and seating areas, spaces that allow you to enjoy endless outdoor activities, one of the design priorities. The façade is characterized by its simplicity, quality and colour, fully integrating itself into the landscaped surroundings of the plot. Its design and modulation respond directly to its program, adjusting to two situations differentiated by its orientation and environment. On the one hand, the north and east facades are directly related to the street, which is why a more protected facade has been designed that combines opaque areas with hollow areas where the balcony doors of the rooms are located. On the other hand, the south and west facades are the most exposed to the sun and in direct contact with the garden. A ventilated facade has been designed with a green extruded ceramic finish with a fretwork-shaped geometry framed with aluminum slats that emphasize its modulation. The building has been designed under strict sustainability and energy-saving parameters, with a thermal envelope and volumetric organization that reduces its demand to a minimum. In the same way, the incorporation of a series of measures and the high efficiency of its facilities reduce CO2 emissions to a minimum, which means that the residents consumes 85% less than what is established by the regulations. Renewable sources of energy production have been incorporated, such as photovoltaic solar panels as well as thermal solar panels for the production of domestic hot water. At the same time, it has been decided to implement responsible water management, with the introduction of efficient equipment, native vegetation with low water requirements and reusing 100% of rainwater. The building promotes sustainable mobility with spaces for bikes and scooters and with open and attractive stairs that connect the common areas and promote healthy interior routes. For all these reasons, the Vita Student residence plans to obtain the BREEAM sustainable construction certificate, as well as a high energy rating of A.