Between Walls and Nature

This project illustrates an intuitive approach, putting the five senses into a deep correlated relationship with a new lifestyle. It understands the site as a structure of stone walls that follow the topography, in the same way as vernacular architecture inhabits the landscape of Menorca. These guidelines articulate a new type of car-free mobility alongside public, semi-public, and private spaces intertwining architecture and nature.

The whole commune is powered with renewable energy and fed with a shared food production system that integrates the reuse of waste. This not only allows for inhabitation without CO2 emissions but gives a sense of community rooted in nature. The climatology of the island is complex, so comfort is achieved by implementing traditional strategies. The inertia of the stone keeps indoor spaces warm in winter, whereas the strategic openings cool down the housing units in summer. Between Walls and Nature emphasizes the symbiosis between what is built and what is felt by incorporating the users into experiencing nature’s symphony.