Transforming our cities inevitably means rethinking the way we live in them. In a context where access to housing has become one of the major social and urban challenges of our time, it is essential to adopt new residential solutions that respond to real population needs. This is the approach we share at HCP Architecture & Engineering, and which we’ve showcased in our contribution to the special feature in Observatorio Inmobiliario, published for SIMA 2025 and focused on the new ways of living.
The challenge: beyond just building homes
Spain is experiencing a structural housing access crisis. Rising prices, the lack of affordable supply, and a rigid housing stock all demand a rethinking of traditional models. With over 30 years of experience, we at HCP are fully aware of this reality. That’s why we are committed to an architecture that not only designs buildings but actively contributes to a fairer, more livable, and sustainable urban model.
We believe that the role of the architect today goes far beyond the technical. It involves embracing a transformative perspective, understanding housing as a basic right, and adapting architectural language to the emerging ways of life in our cities: more diverse, more dynamic households, and collective needs that require flexibility, community, and efficiency.
New models, new solutions: new ways of living
Although it’s not always easy to implement alternative housing models, due to legal, financial, or market constraints, we strive to progressively incorporate them into our portfolio, wherever they make practical and social sense. A clear example of this is the Coliving PTA project, currently under development for Grupo Lar in the Málaga Tech Park.
This project responds to the needs of a very specific demographic: young professionals and temporary workers looking for flexible, well-connected housing. Covering nearly 10,000 m², the building is structured around a single volume with three interconnected wings, housing 105 non-permanent units of varying types. The central volume contains shared areas that serve as the project’s core, encouraging interaction and a sense of community.
Its location, right in the heart of Málaga’s innovation district, reinforces its identity as a model of a new, urban, collaborative, and professionally aligned lifestyle. This coliving solution not only meets a concrete housing demand but also acts as a catalyst for urban regeneration and social cohesion.
Lar Guindos: quality build to rent housing
Our second featured project in the article is Lar Guindos, also developed in collaboration with Grupo Lar. This is a Build to Rent residential development, designed specifically for the urban rental market, located in a rapidly growing area of Málaga. The complex includes 76 homes across 5,656 m² of built surface.
The architectural approach focuses on space optimization, solar orientation, and high construction standards. The project also adheres to the most stringent energy efficiency and thermal comfort requirements, ensuring that renting does not imply sacrificing quality of life.
Lar Guindos shows how the Build to Rent model can serve as an effective way to improve access to urban housing, offering a solid, dignified, and sustainable alternative for a growing segment of the population that struggles to buy property.
Step-by-step commitment to change
Both Coliving PTA and Lar Guindos reflect the direction we aim to follow at HCP: a socially engaged architecture, grounded in context, and focused on providing real solutions to today’s urban challenges. We know there is still a long road ahead before these models become widespread across the Spanish residential sector, but we believe every step counts.
Designing accessible, adaptable, and sustainable homes is a tangible way to work toward a future where decent living is not a privilege, but a right. For us, architecture is not just about technique or aesthetics, it is a responsibility to society.
We will continue exploring, collaborating, and innovating with this conviction in mind: architecture can transform, build community, and improve people’s lives.
You can read the full article in the April/May 2025 special issue of Observatorio Inmobiliario, dedicated to new ways of living, and distributed especially during SIMA.
