In the bustling urban landscape of Montevideo, a quiet revolution in cooperative housing from the 1970s is gaining renewed attention, offering lessons for today’s fragmented societies. Architect Maria Eugenia Puppo, in her research published in *VLC Arquitectura* (which translates to *Valencia Architecture*), delves into the concept of “intermediate space” as a catalyst for collective life in Uruguayan cooperative housing. This isn’t just about bricks and mortar; it’s about fostering community and rethinking how we live together.
Puppo’s study focuses on three cooperative housing projects: VICMAN, AFAF 3, and CUTCSA 1. These aren’t just buildings; they’re social infrastructures designed to bridge the gap between private and communal spaces. “The intermediate space is not a leftover functional area,” Puppo explains. “It’s a social infrastructure that supports communal living.” This space includes active thresholds, habitable routes, and shared uses, all designed to encourage interaction and build community.
The research employs a mix of morphological analysis, on-site observation, and comparative schematics to identify patterns and links between different strategies. Puppo introduces the concept of “border” as an interface between the housing complex and the city, crucial for assessing urban porosity. This approach offers a fresh perspective on how housing can integrate with and enhance urban life.
So, what does this mean for the future of housing and urban planning? Puppo’s work suggests that cooperative architecture, with its dual spatial and participatory dimensions, provides valuable insights for reimagining collective living. In a time marked by social fragmentation, urban loneliness, and housing crises, these experiences offer principles for designing proximity, bonds, and shared care.
The commercial impacts for the energy sector are also noteworthy. As cities grapple with energy efficiency and sustainability, the design principles highlighted in Puppo’s research could inform the development of more communal, energy-efficient housing solutions. By fostering a sense of community, these designs could also reduce the energy footprint associated with urban isolation and sprawl.
Puppo’s research is a reminder that architecture is not just about creating buildings; it’s about shaping the way we live. As we face pressing social and environmental challenges, the lessons from Uruguay’s cooperative housing movement could inspire innovative solutions for the future. “These experiences are not models to be replicated,” Puppo notes. “They are sensitive principles for projecting proximity, bonds, and shared care.” In an era of rapid urbanization and social change, these principles could be more relevant than ever.