Marcio Kogan of São Paulo-based Studio MK27 successfully incorporated Indigenous pueblo topology for the master plan of a stark and stunning community occupying a city block in an upscale residential neighbourhood of Madrid. The intramural streetscapes of the 21-unit property are ungated and open to the public. Despite their austere appearance, things are surprisingly cozy. Inspired by Moorish architecture, this tidy agglomeration of low-lying residences is made up of long, narrow, minimalist and modular cubes with private gardens and extends over five split levels around a central communal pool. The multi-unit project houses nearly triple the density of the Ayuntamiento de Madrid’s reported average.

Project: Somosaguas Location: Madrid, Spain Firm: Studio MK27, Brazil

Team: Marcio Kogan, Suzana Glogowski and Diana Radomysler with Enrique Granado