Built with Limestone Extracted from the Site | Stone House
Located on a rocky hillside in Menorca, Spain, Stone House blends traditional and contemporary architecture using reclaimed limestone from the site. Its trapezoidal layout revolves around a double-height central space that enhances natural light and fluid circulation. A 100 sqm covered porch extends the living areas, acting as a thermal buffer throughout the seasons. The house features an earthy palette with sand-colored concrete floors, whitewashed walls, and pine wood carpentry, achieving both aesthetic harmony and energy efficiency.
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A mosaic of smooth plaster and reclaimed stones from the site's own excavations
shapes the facades of this house, designed by Nomo Studio to overlook the sea in Menorca.
Stone House is located on a rocky hillside facing the northern coast of Menorca, Spain.
The house was built using the same technique and material as the ancient limestone walls
that enclose much of the island's farmland. This single-family residence features outdoor
living spaces, double-height interiors, and a warm, earthy material palette.
The generous 100 square meters covered porch functions as an extension of the kitchen,
dining, and living areas, making it the home's primary gathering space.
At the same time, it serves as a flexible zone that connects the social areas and acts as a
transition between the house and the landscape. With its retractable, double-glazed facade,
this semi-open space works as a true thermal buffer, a winter garden in mild seasons,
a shaded porch during hot summers, and an insulating barrier against winter cold.
The home's traditional aesthetics create a strong connection to the local architecture.
However, rather than replicating vernacular style, its elements were reinterpreted by
framing all windows and edges with a geometric mosaic of off-white plaster and light-toned stone.
The metal frames extending from the windows add a subtle contemporary touch,
while protecting them from direct sunlight and supporting the foldable wooden shutters.
The layering of stone on the facade and external walls allows the architecture
and landscape to blend seamlessly. The two-story house has a trapezoidal floor plan
that opens toward the sea. It includes six bedrooms, a one-car garage, and spacious living,
dining, and kitchen areas, all arranged around a central double-height space.
This core connects both floors physically and visually. The earthy tones continue inside
with sand-colored concrete floors, whitewashed walls, pine woodwork, and white-veiled wooden beams.
Despite its apparent simplicity, the interiors do not feel cold or austere,
but rather welcoming and well-balanced. This is achieved through attention to detail
and an approach that seeks harmony between traditional and contemporary elements.
The kitchen, cabinets, bookshelves, and niches were built in masonry,
maintaining simplicity as a defining principle.
Thanks to the large glazed openings on the upper level, this space acts as a natural light shaft,
ensuring brightness throughout the house and preventing darkness in its core.
The circulation spirals around this central void, eliminating narrow corridors and enhancing
spatial fluidity. Indirect lighting was carefully planned to avoid exposed fixtures on walls and
ceilings. Inspired by the solidity and compactness of traditional architecture,
yet utilizing modern construction systems, the house achieves a high level of energy efficiency.
Its highly insulated envelope ensures a comfortable temperature throughout the year.