Mome Estudio aims to promote the use of common areas in the project, with spaces that are active places of interrelation between users. The ground floor contains the main spaces for social interaction, as well as individual areas outside the residential area, blurring the boundary between the collective and the individual.
The 27 residential units are structured in four typologies that adapt to the conditions of the building. Each typology follows a functional standardization while introducing variations in the private spaces responding to the needs of different temporary inhabitants.
The different spaces of the project are differentiated through a play of material contrasts. Each room presents a specific atmosphere thanks to the contrast of materials, lights and finishes, generating a sensory experience for users as well as serving as an orientation within the building. The strategic use of color is used in the rooms to encourage different uses in the same space.
Zen by Mome Estudio. Photograph by Imagen Subliminal.
Project description by Mome Estudio
The ZEN project is a coliving initiative that continues the formal and conceptual exploration of new ways of cohabiting, a line of research developed in previous projects for the GoLiving group. Located in a former residential building, the project combines private and shared spaces, accommodating 27 housing units of various typologies. Its setting on the outskirts of Madrid, surrounded by green areas, enhances the concept of community living that defines this housing model, extending it to the outdoor spaces as well.
The main goal of the project is to allow private living while promoting the use of communal areas. These social interaction spaces play a central role in the residents' experience. The main common areas are located on the ground floor, including a dining room, kitchen, living room, study room, and multipurpose room. These spaces are designed not only to facilitate community life but also to enable personal retreat, even outside the private units, thus blurring the boundary between the collective and the individual. This concept extends to the exterior, where communal spaces—such as the pool, calisthenics area, and meeting spots—coexist with more secluded, private corners integrated into tree-covered areas that encourage introspection.
The 27 units are structured into four different typologies, adapted to the building’s pre-existing conditions and orientation. Despite their formal differences, all units share a unified living program designed to cater to a broad range of temporary users. The project proposes a functional standardization that accommodates diverse residents while also introducing variations in the relationship between each unit and its private outdoor spaces, adding uniqueness to each typology.
The project places strong emphasis on the use and treatment of materials. The spaces are organized and distinguished through a play of contrasts in colors, materials, lighting, and finishes, creating a series of distinct spatial atmospheres. This material-spatial variation not only enriches the sensory experience of the users but also serves as a tool for orientation within the building. Vertical and horizontal circulation areas alternate with meeting spaces, proyectual responde a una idea global que busca integrar lo individual y lo colectivo, lo privado y lo compartido, en un conjunto armónico y adaptado a las necesidades actuales.
The ZEN project stands as an architectural response to contemporary demands for flexible housing and community living, merging spatial functionality with a thoughtful reflection on new ways of inhabiting. Each design decision is guided by a unified concept that balances individual and collective living, harmonizing private and shared spaces to create a cohesive environment suited to today’s needs.
