Vala Apartment by Dasein Office

In rapidly densifying cities, where vertical housing has become the dominant response to limited land and growing populations, architecture is increasingly challenged to go beyond efficiency and quantity. Vala Apartment, designed by Dasein Office, emerges as a thoughtful answer to this condition. The project asks a fundamental architectural and social question: how can collective living and conscious presence be cultivated within today’s dense, vertical urban environments? Rather than treating density as a problem to be managed, Vala reframes it as an opportunity to strengthen social interaction, neighborhood identity, and everyday encounters within a single residential volume.

A Single Volume, Multiple Lives

The project brings together 50 residential units within one compact architectural mass. Instead of fragmenting the building into isolated apartments stacked atop one another, Vala proposes an integrated structure where shared circulation and spatial continuity play a central role. The building is conceived not merely as a container for private dwellings, but as a social framework—one capable of accommodating individual life while nurturing collective presence.

This approach reflects a broader ambition: to restore a sense of belonging that is often lost in contemporary apartment living. In many high-density buildings, circulation corridors are reduced to purely functional passages. In contrast, Vala transforms these spaces into places of meaning, interaction, and pause.

Circulation as Vertical Alleyways

At the heart of the project lies a radical reinterpretation of circulation. Drawing inspiration from the alleyways of traditional neighborhoods, the internal routes of Vala function as more than paths of movement. They are spatial experiences in their own right—places where residents can stop, observe, and encounter traces of others’ lives.

These circulation paths extend vertically, weaving through the building and connecting units in a layered network. Changes in width, height, and enclosure create a rich sequence of spatial moments. Narrow passages open into wider thresholds; enclosed corridors transition into semi-open landings. Light and shadow animate these spaces throughout the day, reinforcing a sense of rhythm and time within the building.

Through this strategy, circulation becomes a social catalyst rather than an afterthought. The building subtly encourages interaction without forcing it, allowing encounters to occur naturally as part of daily routines.

A Vertical Interpretation of the Neighborhood

Vala’s most distinctive contribution lies in its reinterpretation of the neighborhood concept within a vertical form. Traditionally, neighborhoods are defined by proximity, shared spaces, and repeated informal encounters. Vala translates these qualities into architecture by creating a spatial network that promotes visibility, recognition, and presence among residents.

The interplay of open, semi-open, and enclosed spaces allows different degrees of engagement. Some areas invite brief interaction—a glance, a greeting—while others allow longer moments of pause. This layered spatial logic acknowledges that collective living thrives not through constant interaction, but through choice, diversity, and balance between privacy and openness.

In this way, the building becomes a vertical micro-neighborhood, where social bonds can form organically over time.

Light, Shadow, and Conscious Movement

Movement through Vala is deliberately designed to be experiential. The architects use shifts in light, shadow, and proportion to heighten awareness of one’s presence within the building. Vertical routes are not uniform shafts but dynamic sequences where perception changes with every turn, level, and opening.

This attention to sensory experience transforms everyday movement—walking to one’s apartment, passing a neighbor—into a more conscious act. Residents are gently drawn out of indifferent passage and into a state of awareness, where architecture frames both solitude and encounter.

Such moments, repeated daily, contribute to a deeper sense of attachment to place.

Balancing Density and Individuality

While Vala strongly emphasizes collective life, it does not neglect individual experience. Each residential unit remains a private refuge, carefully positioned within the larger structure. The shared circulation spaces act as a buffer zone, mediating between the public and the private, allowing residents to transition gradually from collective presence to personal retreat.

This balance is essential in high-density housing. By structuring interaction as optional rather than imposed, Vala respects personal boundaries while still offering opportunities for connection. The result is a living environment where density does not equate to anonymity, and privacy does not imply isolation.

Architecture as a Framework for Social Life

Rather than relying on added amenities or programmed communal rooms, Vala embeds its social ambition directly into its architectural structure. The building itself becomes the framework through which relationships, routines, and shared experiences can unfold.

This approach positions architecture not as a static object, but as an active participant in everyday life—one that shapes behavior through spatial design rather than regulation. In doing so, Vala proposes a compelling alternative to conventional apartment blocks that prioritize efficiency over experience.

A Model for Contemporary Urban Living

Vala Apartment stands as a quietly radical response to the realities of contemporary urban housing. By redefining circulation, reimagining neighborhood life, and embracing density as a social asset, the project offers a model for future residential architecture in rapidly growing cities.

More than a housing block, Vala is an exploration of how architecture can foster belonging, awareness, and shared presence within the vertical city. It demonstrates that even within tight constraints, thoughtful spatial design can create environments where people do not merely coexist, but genuinely inhabit a place together.

Photography: Amirhossein Pashaei