Destined for student accommodation, the Hoso tower is located in the largest university

campus in the City of Porto, Portugal.

Integrated between orthogonal volumes, Hoso fills an urban void created by the various discontinuities associated with the inner belt motorway. The cylindrical volumetry allows for an optimized spatial organization and flexibility, reducing the circulation areas and solving the typological versatility in a simple way. The modules gather the infrastructures in the centre, contiguous to the common accesses, with plans open to the outside.

With a concrete prefabricated structure, all of the pieces are built-in fabric and are assembled on-site to reduce construction costs and the timeline by 30%. It took approximately one week to assemble each floor. The method and process of prefabricated construction minimize unforeseen outcomes, which guarantees above-average quality. The pieces can be easily pilled, which allows for a reduction in transportation and, therefore, minimal waste and carbon footprint.

The proposed facade protects the housing units from not only sun exposure, but also from an acoustic point of view, working as a barrier to reduce noise coming from the roads with greater traffic. At the same time, it acts as a filter that allows privacy in each housing unit. The balconies all around its perimeter give plasticity to the building, exploring the vertical and horizontal elements. The upper and lower tops and ground floor are intended for collective uses. The roof terrace is the coronation, providing panoramic views.