“A transitional housing system that buffers the tsunami of migration”
Project Description
The project proposes a transitional housing system for people arriving in Barcelona for work or study, including students, young professionals, and temporary workers. It responds to the growing demand for short-term and interim living solutions in a city under increasing demographic and housing pressure.
The system introduces a modular, temporary living layer inserted in between existing urban blocks, activating underused spaces without permanent construction. By operating as a flexible and reversible infrastructure, it provides affordable housing while giving newcomers time to adapt to the city and transition toward long-term living.
Positioned between permanence and temporality, the project frames transitional housing as an adaptive urban strategy integrated into Barcelona’s existing fabric.
Research and Context
Population growth driven by migration is occurring at a significantly faster pace than growth caused by birth rates. This rapid change creates an urgent need for housing solutions that can be implemented quickly and remain adaptable over time.
Barcelona has experienced two major migration waves in its history: the first during the Industrial Revolution and the second during the period known as the Spanish Miracle. Both phases were analyzed at multiple scales, from citywide development patterns to the transformation of individual urban blocks.
The first migration wave had a strong impact on the city’s structure. Industrial facilities were established around Barcelona, while residential development began to fill the interior spaces of Cerdà blocks.
During the Spanish Miracle, industrial expansion intensified. Additional factories were constructed, and housing developed directly around them, reinforcing the block-based urban structure that defines Barcelona today.
Today, Barcelona is geographically constrained between the mountains, the sea, and two rivers. With no remaining capacity for outward expansion, the city’s future development is increasingly directed inward, focusing on the transformation and activation of its existing urban fabric.
