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FIGUERUELAS LIVING ORIGINS
FIGUERUELAS LIVING ORIGINS
Figueruelas, Spain
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Other Projects by Arquitectura Yngrid Echalar Gutierrez
FIGUERUELAS LIVING ORIGINS
Figueruelas, Spain
STATUS
Concept
YEAR
2029
SIZE
500,000 sqft - 1,000,000 sqft
Context and Challenge:
Figueruelas, a small rural municipality in Zaragoza with around 1,250 inhabitants, is facing a major demographic transformation.
The construction of a gigafactory for electric vehicle batteries, promoted by the automotive group Stellantis and the Chinese company CATL, is expected to bring up to 2,200 temporary workers during the construction phase. According to official statements and press reports since early 2025, these workers will be accommodated in prefabricated housing.
After construction, the plant will generate more than 2,000 permanent jobs, creating sustained population growth over time. This scenario requires urgent responses in terms of housing, infrastructure, public services, and social integration.
Such rapid growth may also create important challenges:
• Limited existing infrastructure
• Risk of losing local identity and cultural fabric
• Potential social tensions, common in rural communities undergoing rapid expansion
The Proposal:
Figueruelas Living Origins proposes a new neighborhood model rooted in the cultural identity of Figueruelas while responding to contemporary social and environmental challenges.
Inspired by the principles of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) and the objectives of the European Green Deal, the project reimagines affordable housing as a regenerative and people-centered urban system.
The proposal seeks to create a place where beauty, sustainability, and inclusion coexist. Each dwelling is conceived as a timeless refuge, combining white textures, wood details, sustainable concrete, and hydroponic gardens within a living landscape.
The architectural language draws inspiration from the traditional Mediterranean character of the municipality while introducing a contemporary and sustainable vision for the future. The result is an environment designed not only for living, but also for belonging and building community.
Rather than responding to demographic pressure with temporary solutions, the project transforms it into an opportunity to rethink how rural communities can grow with resilience and respect for their environment.
Master Plan:
The project proposes the development of a new residential district composed of 887 affordable and sustainable housing units, organized into three housing typologies and aligned with the principles of the New European Bauhaus.
The master plan is designed to accommodate approximately 1,553 residents.
More than an urban intervention, the project acts as a design research exercise addressing one of the most pressing challenges in Europe today: the housing crisis. It explores new possibilities for housing typologies, urban density, and sustainable rural growth.
The intervention area covers 49,727 m², located in Figueruelas and bounded by Avenida de Aragón, Avenida Zaragoza, and the Autovía del Ebro.
Geographic coordinates:
41°45'46.7"N
1°10'29.3"W
Key Contributions:
Human-centered housing:
Each residential block integrates hydroponic gardens, shared green areas, and biophilic design strategies that support physical and emotional well-being.
Timeless architectural identity:
The project combines traditional Mediterranean forms with contemporary sustainable materials, creating a dialogue between heritage and innovation.
A scalable model for rural regeneration
As a replicable pilot project, it demonstrates how small municipalities can absorb demographic change while preserving social cohesion and cultural identity.
Community integration:
Through shared spaces and participatory urban principles, the project encourages interaction between local residents and newcomers, strengthening social and economic resilience.
Urban Structure:
The new urban fabric is carefully integrated into the existing context. Instead of disrupting the surrounding environment, the proposal reinforces it through an inclusive residential landscape that also functions as a green lung and community meeting space for the municipality.
Housing blocks are connected through pedestrian-only internal streets, green corridors, and shared open spaces. Public facilities and community areas are integrated into the plan to create an accessible and coherent urban structure focused on quality of life.
Housing Typologies:
Following bioclimatic design principles, the project introduces an innovative housing typology centered around nature and collective space.
Each of the three housing blocks incorporates a hydroponic garden along its central axis, located at the main entrance.
This space is defined by a double-height arched metal portico that welcomes residents while also functioning as a vertical cultivation system with vegetables and climbing plants.
Beyond its environmental value, this element acts as a microclimatic refuge and social threshold, connecting residents with nature from the moment they enter the building.
All housing units include large balconies facing the green environment of the neighborhood. These outdoor spaces are framed by triple-height arched porticos covered with vegetation, providing shade, climatic comfort, and a distinctive architectural identity.
The design also reflects lessons learned during the global health crisis of 2020, when access to outdoor spaces became essential for everyday life.
Construction System:
The housing blocks are conceived as modular structures with surfaces of 162 m², 164 m², and 169 m², depending on the typology.
Construction is based on prefabricated panels of sustainable concrete enhanced with biochar, allowing faster assembly, reduced construction time, and a lower environmental footprint.
The architectural finishes combine traditional white textures with sustainable wood elements, creating warmth and visual coherence.
The arched balconies use a hybrid construction system, combining prefabricated concrete with traditional craftsmanship. This approach connects contemporary construction techniques with local architectural heritage.
Together, the central hydroponic axis, arched balconies, and modular structure create a distinctive architectural atmosphere, establishing a dialogue between past, present, and future.
The residential complex includes 97 housing blocks, with a total projected built area of 50,297 m².
Figueruelas, a small rural municipality in Zaragoza with around 1,250 inhabitants, is facing a major demographic transformation.
The construction of a gigafactory for electric vehicle batteries, promoted by the automotive group Stellantis and the Chinese company CATL, is expected to bring up to 2,200 temporary workers during the construction phase. According to official statements and press reports since early 2025, these workers will be accommodated in prefabricated housing.
After construction, the plant will generate more than 2,000 permanent jobs, creating sustained population growth over time. This scenario requires urgent responses in terms of housing, infrastructure, public services, and social integration.
Such rapid growth may also create important challenges:
• Limited existing infrastructure
• Risk of losing local identity and cultural fabric
• Potential social tensions, common in rural communities undergoing rapid expansion
The Proposal:
Figueruelas Living Origins proposes a new neighborhood model rooted in the cultural identity of Figueruelas while responding to contemporary social and environmental challenges.
Inspired by the principles of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) and the objectives of the European Green Deal, the project reimagines affordable housing as a regenerative and people-centered urban system.
The proposal seeks to create a place where beauty, sustainability, and inclusion coexist. Each dwelling is conceived as a timeless refuge, combining white textures, wood details, sustainable concrete, and hydroponic gardens within a living landscape.
The architectural language draws inspiration from the traditional Mediterranean character of the municipality while introducing a contemporary and sustainable vision for the future. The result is an environment designed not only for living, but also for belonging and building community.
Rather than responding to demographic pressure with temporary solutions, the project transforms it into an opportunity to rethink how rural communities can grow with resilience and respect for their environment.
Master Plan:
The project proposes the development of a new residential district composed of 887 affordable and sustainable housing units, organized into three housing typologies and aligned with the principles of the New European Bauhaus.
The master plan is designed to accommodate approximately 1,553 residents.
More than an urban intervention, the project acts as a design research exercise addressing one of the most pressing challenges in Europe today: the housing crisis. It explores new possibilities for housing typologies, urban density, and sustainable rural growth.
The intervention area covers 49,727 m², located in Figueruelas and bounded by Avenida de Aragón, Avenida Zaragoza, and the Autovía del Ebro.
Geographic coordinates:
41°45'46.7"N
1°10'29.3"W
Key Contributions:
Human-centered housing:
Each residential block integrates hydroponic gardens, shared green areas, and biophilic design strategies that support physical and emotional well-being.
Timeless architectural identity:
The project combines traditional Mediterranean forms with contemporary sustainable materials, creating a dialogue between heritage and innovation.
A scalable model for rural regeneration
As a replicable pilot project, it demonstrates how small municipalities can absorb demographic change while preserving social cohesion and cultural identity.
Community integration:
Through shared spaces and participatory urban principles, the project encourages interaction between local residents and newcomers, strengthening social and economic resilience.
Urban Structure:
The new urban fabric is carefully integrated into the existing context. Instead of disrupting the surrounding environment, the proposal reinforces it through an inclusive residential landscape that also functions as a green lung and community meeting space for the municipality.
Housing blocks are connected through pedestrian-only internal streets, green corridors, and shared open spaces. Public facilities and community areas are integrated into the plan to create an accessible and coherent urban structure focused on quality of life.
Housing Typologies:
Following bioclimatic design principles, the project introduces an innovative housing typology centered around nature and collective space.
Each of the three housing blocks incorporates a hydroponic garden along its central axis, located at the main entrance.
This space is defined by a double-height arched metal portico that welcomes residents while also functioning as a vertical cultivation system with vegetables and climbing plants.
Beyond its environmental value, this element acts as a microclimatic refuge and social threshold, connecting residents with nature from the moment they enter the building.
All housing units include large balconies facing the green environment of the neighborhood. These outdoor spaces are framed by triple-height arched porticos covered with vegetation, providing shade, climatic comfort, and a distinctive architectural identity.
The design also reflects lessons learned during the global health crisis of 2020, when access to outdoor spaces became essential for everyday life.
Construction System:
The housing blocks are conceived as modular structures with surfaces of 162 m², 164 m², and 169 m², depending on the typology.
Construction is based on prefabricated panels of sustainable concrete enhanced with biochar, allowing faster assembly, reduced construction time, and a lower environmental footprint.
The architectural finishes combine traditional white textures with sustainable wood elements, creating warmth and visual coherence.
The arched balconies use a hybrid construction system, combining prefabricated concrete with traditional craftsmanship. This approach connects contemporary construction techniques with local architectural heritage.
Together, the central hydroponic axis, arched balconies, and modular structure create a distinctive architectural atmosphere, establishing a dialogue between past, present, and future.
The residential complex includes 97 housing blocks, with a total projected built area of 50,297 m².
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