The Communal Living Room

The Communal Living Room is a speculative project reimagining the future of third spaces in Madrid. Using datasets from the Madrid Open Data portal — including population density, air quality, public infrastructure, and cultural services — we explored how increasing urban density, rising temperatures, and shrinking private living spaces may reshape everyday life in the city.

From this research, we developed the concept of the “Communal Living Room”: a future where public plazas begin functioning as shared extensions of the home. We imagined Plaza Olavide transformed into a temperature-regulated communal environment with shared kitchens, co-working spaces, shaded gathering areas, and flexible social spaces designed for everyday living beyond the apartment.

The project involved mapping datasets, identifying urban patterns, and translating research into spatial concepts through moodboards, physical prototypes, material experiments, and AI-generated visualizations. I was also responsible for designing the final publication on Adobe InDesign, translating our research and written work into a cohesive visual format while developing the overall layout system and presentation of the project.

Ultimately, the project became an exploration of how cities might respond to climate pressure, limited space, and growing dependence on communal infrastructure while still maintaining comfort, connection, and a sense of everyday life.