The first phase of a collaborative residential design between MVRDV and GRAS Reynes Arquitectos called Project Gomila has opened in Mallorca, Spain.

Located in the city’s El Terreno district, the project will eventually bequeath 60 new dwellings in plots surrounding the Plaza Gamila that were purchased by the Fluxa Family, owners of the popular Mallorca-based shoe brand Camper, in order to initiate an urban renewal strategy in line with their business philosophy.

“In terms of urbanism, the concept revolves around the diversity of the buildings,” MVRDV's Winy Maas explains the design. “Where some of the designs are more suited to family homes, others are more suited for apartments for singles or couples; where some buildings are fully residential, others bring commercial functions into the mix. This diversity of people and spaces will help bring  back El Terreno’s lost vibrancy.”

Phase One’s buildings include the new Gomila Center, a renovated mixed-use design that was originally designed by architect Pere Nicolau in 1979, a trio of vibrant red rooftop terrace-lined townhouses called Las Casitas “little houses,” and Las Fabri-Casas, a block of rowhouses beset with distinctive sawtooth roofs and contrasting blue ceramic facades.

Another apartment building constructed using rammed earth blocks completes the first segment of the program alongside La Plaza, a mixed-used renovation that’s been transformed to accommodate a bar, offices, and further rooftop spaces offering views of the bay and surrounding historic buildings.

Each structure in Phase One is designed to be energy neutral and incorporate passive house techniques. Solar panels are incorporated into the building's rooftops along with heat recovery systems that make use of the region's abundant sun exposure. Finally, MVRDV says most of the materials used were sourced locally in order to reduce the amount of consumption in the construction cycle. 

“Project Gomila is an exciting architectural project – each of the seven buildings can stand alone as its own individual design, and yet at the same time, they are also carefully considered as an ensemble that gives Gomila a fresh boost,” MVRDV founding partner Jacob van Rijs said at the end of a press description. 

The final two phases, which involve the renovation of two existing buildings at the site, will be completed at a later time.