Designed by Ricardo Bofill in the town of Sant Just Desvern, on the outskirts of Barcelona, Walden 7 was completed in 1975 and to this day is a well functioning and communal hive. On the site of a former concrete factory, with Bofill's own La Fábrica next door, the 14-storey building is composed of a myriad of oval shapes clearly hinting at the structure of a honeycomb design. There is a complex network of footbridges that link each floor with interspersing courtyards and light wells.

The interior 'cell' units are modular in a sense, as over the years, individuals and families with different needs have respectively combined two, three, or four cells, horizontally or vertically, sometimes over two levels.

Though an overcast day in spring, my mom and I loved strolling within the complex, seeing the blurring of private and public space, framed with earthy tones and intriguing vistas. Grateful to Alexandra Olivella Riera for showing us this inspiring project.