Otto Uno Residential Building and Social Housing

Press Kit

Unique Properties

Otto Uno is a social housing residential building project, located in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The main objective when designing Otto Uno was to improve the city and its architectural aesthetics while creating an affordable and sustainable Social Housing Building, committed both to the environment and the society. To create, with a contemporary architectural design, 36 Social Housing units, that could be at the same time functional, sustainable, and affordable. To create a project that could enrich the city, improving the quality of life of its residents.

Dimensions & Packaging

Featuring 36 apartments, Otto Uno is an eight-storey condominium building, with
six floors of apartments, a ground floor that houses a lobby and parking area, and a rooftop terrace that hosts a variety of amenities.
The development includes one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, and they all have their own green area, with geometrical pots that house native plants and trees.
In the rooftop terrace residents can enjoy nature, as well as several amenities, such as a swimming pool with a solarium, a recreation lounge area, a fitness centre and several vegetable gardens.

Tags

residential, housing, social housing, Punta del Este

Production Technology

Otto Uno’s architecture is defined on the one hand by the simplicity and elegance of glazing, black aluminium and wood, and on the other hand, by the biophilic design and the connection with nature.

There are two elements that most define Otto Uno's architecture: Glass and Greenery. Glass is an important part of the essence of the building, as the whole facades have been designed with floor to ceiling glazing.
And greenery is the element that defines Otto Uno ́s identity.
The building has a very simple and pure shape, where light and transparency are main concepts of the design

Design Challenge

The main challenge was the creation of a Social Housing building with a contemporary architectural aesthetic and a Biophilic Design, with both an environment and social commitment.

The design aims to develop units that could be able to define new standards for the sector, improving, with a good design, the quality of life of the residents of social housing buildings.
Otto Uno's design, which connects humans, architecture, nature, and the city, proposes a new design paradigm, in which vegetation and living nature must be considered constituent elements of architectural language.

Project Duration

The project started in December 2020 and is under construction. It will be completed in November 2022, becoming the first sustainable Social Housing building in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

Operation Flow

The design of the building aims to facilitate an urban and sustainable way of living,
The rationality and the efficiency of the floor plans, were essential to fulfill the requirements of functionality and affordability.

Residents interaction is encouraged with social spaces. The creation of the roof top terrace, which has been designed like a town square, has the mission of encouraging residents to socialize.
It was created as a dynamic space, that allows a wide diversity of activities and ways of enjoying nature and social activities.

Research

As Otto Uno is a Social Housing building, a main research concerned the Uruguayan social program of affordable housing, and the analysis of the best options to create an affordable, efficient building that could be part of the social program developed in the country.
On the other hand, as sustainability is a major aspect of the project, another main research concerned the study of the site, the climate, and the analysis of the specific best options to obtain an energy-efficient building, and to incorporate native plants and trees that could improve biodiversity and residents well-being

Inspiration

The main inspirational concept that has influenced the design of Otto Uno is the concept of biophilia. Nature was the main source of inspiration for the design.
Sustainability is a major aspect of the project, and the studio aimed to create a biophilic architectural design, where greenery is an essential part of the project, and an element that defines Otto Uno ́s identity.
The objective was that Otto Uno, with its Biophilic Design, could provide a wealth of benefits for the building occupants and the urban environment, through improving connection to nature.

Image Credits

#1 Nacho Correa Belino
#2 Nacho Correa Belino
#3 Camila Guevara
#4 Camila Guevara
#5 Nacho Correa Belino

Colors of Otto Uno Residential Building and Social Housing