The architecture of social housing in Mallorca has become the focus of a project that links environmental responsibility, public policy and everyday living conditions. Economist Cris Ballester and architect Carles Oliver developed a model intended to respond to the climate crisis while adapting homes to increasingly severe heat episodes.
Their work fits the theme of the 2026 Obel Award, “Hacking the System.” Created in 2019, the prize recognises outstanding architectural contributions to the common good. This year’s theme reflects the pressure facing the profession: construction is responsible for 30% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, while architects must also contend with European regulations, economic constraints, industrial lobbies and established cultural practices.
The award’s framing argues that architecture needs to transform its methods if the world is to limit global warming as close as possible to the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement. In Mallorca, the social-housing model developed by Ballester and Oliver presents that challenge through the design of homes intended to remain habitable during heatwaves while meeting environmental requirements.
The Obel Foundation was established as the legacy of Danish businessman Henrik Frode Obel, who made his fortune in Spain’s insecticide sector and maintained a strong interest in architecture and the built environment.
Sources: Le Monde Culture.