Residential Building in Catalonia by Alventosa Morell Arquitectes

Located in the small Catalan municipality of Creixell in north-eastern Spain, the building was designed for a couple. The building blends into its surroundings, with its colour inspired by a nearby pine forest. The asymmetrical roof makes one half of the house higher, creating a mezzanine floor. The gallery located there is used as a fitness area, among other things.

The open-plan living and dining area is located on the ground floor. © Adrià Goula

The compact house has a rectangular floor plan. The kitchen and living/dining area are located on the ground floor in one long, open-plan space. The latter occupies half of the floor plan. Three large windows, distributed across three sides, provide light and offer generous views of the adjacent garden. The other half contains a bedroom, bathroom and entrance area. A delicate white steel staircase leads up to a gallery that opens onto the living and dining area.

The multifunctional room on the gallery level, © Adrià Goula

The interior of the house is encased in a concrete shell. Rather than closed concrete walls, there are infilled supports clad in birch plywood. These give the house a warm atmosphere. Added to this are graphically arranged windows with pine frames and cork cladding on the facade. The latter increases the house's thermal inertia. It also fits in with the design concept, oscillating between the appearance of an abstract sculpture and a cosy hut.