Designed on a gently sloping site, this modern residence is carefully positioned to create a seamless relationship between architecture, garden, and landscape.
Rather than spreading across the entire plot, the house sits near the highest point of the site, leaving a generous open area at the front for a garden and swimming pool. This simple decision allows the main living spaces to remain closely connected to nature.
Large openings, courtyards, and carefully framed views bring the garden into everyday life. The landscape remains visible along circulation paths and from the main living areas, creating a continuous dialogue between interior and exterior.
The material palette reinforces this connection to the site. Local dry stone forms the main exterior walls, while a soft “sate”-type mortar finish creates contrast above. Warm sand and stone tones allow the house to blend naturally into its surroundings rather than dominate the landscape.
Inside, natural stone continues across floors and outdoor living areas, creating a consistent visual language. Stone paths, stained concrete, and cobblestones further soften the transition between the house and garden.
Architects: Dom Arquitectura Area: 735 m² Year: 2025 Photographs:Pol Viladoms Lead Architect: Pablo Serrano Elorduy
00:00 - Introduction & Context (House on a Cliffside) 01:20 - Design Philosophy: Merging with Nature 02:22 - Main Floor Layout: Modern Living Spaces 02:49 - Basement & Functional Utilities 03:33 - Materiality: The Beauty of Local Stone 04:18 - Interplay of Light and Open Space 05:40 - Conclusion: Harmonious Architecture
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Located on a gently sloping site, this residence is carefully positioned to take advantage of its
natural setting. The house faces south while the land gradually slopes toward the rear.
Instead of spreading across the plot, the building sits near the highest point,
leaving a large open area at the front for a garden and swimming pool. The main idea behind
the design is simple, to create a strong connection between the house and nature.
Rather than treating the garden as a separate outdoor space, the architecture allows the main
rooms to open directly toward it. Large openings, courtyards, and continuous views
bring greenery into everyday life, creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere.
All of the main living spaces are arranged on the first floor. From the interior,
views of the garden and courtyards remain visible along the circulation paths,
making the landscape feel like a natural extension of the home.
The living areas also connect directly with outdoor spaces,
allowing daily activities to move easily between inside and outside.
The basement has a more practical role. It contains the parking, storage, technical,
and service areas, keeping the main floor open and focused on family life and its relationship
with the garden. The exterior is defined by large walls of local dry stone, giving the house
a strong but natural character. Above them, a continuous upper band uses a sat-type mortar
finish, creating a softer contrast with the stone below. The color palette remains close
to the landscape, using warm sand and stone tones. This helps the residence blend quietly
into its surroundings rather than stand apart from them. But perhaps the most important feature
of the residence is not any single material or architectural element. It is the way the house
constantly brings nature into everyday life. As you move through the rooms, the garden remains
present through windows, courtyards, and open living areas. Light changes throughout the day,
views shift with movement, and the boundary between indoors and outdoors becomes softer.
The house does not try to dominate its landscape. Instead, it creates a quiet framework for
experiencing it. With its simple form, local stone, warm natural colors, and open relationship
with the garden, this residence shows how architecture can create comfort without becoming
excessive. Rather than building a home beside nature, the project creates a home that feels
as though it belongs to nature.