According to the urban planning certificate, the project is located on a rectangular corner plot of just 500 m², with a buildable area of 180 m² and a permitted site coverage of 70%.

 

Strictly adhering to these parameters as the project's generative guidelines would have inevitably led to disaster: a rectangular block surrounded by leftover, residual spaces. The challenge, then, was to minimize the actual building footprint within this potential envelope in order to achieve—despite the constraints of such a small plot—high-quality outdoor areas, the main reason, after all, that one ventures into the risky endeavor of building a detached house.

 

These outdoor spaces are achieved by designing a generous interior courtyard at semi-basement level, spanned by a twenty-meter-long curved beam with a trapezoidal section that supports the main volume of the house. This beam leaves ample open space on either side, allowing natural light and ventilation into the semi-basement, which has become the owners' favorite living area during the hotter months. A microclimate is created that eliminates the need for air conditioning and allows for lush landscaping to thrive.

 

The ground floor, which partially covers the courtyard, curves in its first third to facilitate, on one side, access to the underground parking, and on the other, the main exterior entrances to the house. Following the diagonal axis of the plot, this curvature also allows for a longer linear development necessary to accommodate the program.

 

Above this level, an ovoid volume appears to hover, slightly displaced over the ground floor and seemingly at the limit of balance, housing the bedrooms. This displacement subtly defines the spatial perception of the house's entrance from the exterior.

 

The geometry of the ground floor and its layout generate a series of cascading curves—such as that of the swimming pool—and a true Promenade Architecturale. These outdoor pathways, varying in route, narrate the architecture of the house with striking clarity.

 

While the interior circulation follows a more traditional organization, the exterior paths are far more evocative, offering multiple options that connect the different levels and functions of the house, according to the user’s preference.

 

The careful orientation of the house and the design of cross-ventilation ensure that not only the semi-basement performs well climatically, but also the two upper floors. This is further enhanced by a series of sliding lattice panels that shield the interior from the western sun and provide privacy from the neighboring plot on the upper levels.

 

Inside, the house is designed with a fluid layout, with only the essential partitions. Finishes are refined and limited to glass, marble, and wood, while the lighting design has been studied in detail to create a consistent luminous atmosphere that links both the interiors and exteriors of the house.

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Design Credits:

 

Partners in Charge: Manuel Clavel Rojo / Luis Clavel Sainz (Clavel Arquitectos)
 

Project Director: Manuel Clavel Rojo / Luis Clavel Sainz (Clavel Arquitectos)

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Team:  Ana Abellán Márquez, Fran Abellán Estevan, Ana Fernández Martínez, Luis Muñoz García.

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Collaborators: Qube Ingeniería, Zima Desarrollos.

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Construction Manager: Juan Vicente Megina Navarro​

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Contractor: owner-developed

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Photography:  David Frutos