An extraordinary piece of architecture has been in the news of late, reflecting Valencia’s urban utopia. And this week it has been very much part of the Open House 2025 with guided tours through more than 70 emblematic buildings of Valencia.

This is the Espai Verd, A Vegetal Urban Cathedral:

The Espai Verd (Green Space) was born from a utopia among architects: creating a community in the city by making it live among the trees. In the north of Valencia, the dense urban center is replaced by peri-urban housing with theri garden and agricultural production areas. The idea was to make this building a link between these two different urban patterns. That is to say, a building that would be a formal association of houses allowing to categorize this transition between two neighborhoods. Thus, the architectural solution was to create a typology of housing with each 100m of private green spaces with common spaces designed with particular attention.

The reflection on the combination of common and private spaces is built to encourage a communal lifestyle where nature is at the heart of social relations and daily life. The building was built as a compact city with a forest as its backbone. The omnipresence and abundance of vegetation makes it impossible to prioritize the common and private vegetated areas.

With a further look at the place and the architect: Espai Verd Dwellings: Antonio Cortés Ferrando’s Green Cathedral:

The Espai Verd dwellings in Valencia, Spain, designed in 1991 by CSPT Arquitectos in collaboration with Antonio Cortés Arquitecto, are remarkable residential buildings. This innovative structure is not merely a physical edifice but an example of the visionary philosophy of its creators. It embodies a commitment to self-sustainability, strikes a balance with nature, and fosters a cooperative living environment. Meticulously crafted with a keen eye on ecological harmony, Espai Verd manifests modern design thinking, where form beautifully marries function.

…