House in Seva

I. Overview

The project proposes a single-family house with a rectangular geometry, located on the urban portion of the plot, occupying the maximum permitted footprint. It is oriented northwest–southeast, where the main façades are located, and closed on the other two orientations, as there is a neighbouring building to the northeast. The characteristics of the surroundings have strongly conditioned the design, which has carefully considered the presence of the nearby regional road, due to its proximity, heavy traffic and its elevated position relative to the plot to the southwest. This element was of concern both in terms of views and acoustics.

II. Structural Bays

The house is developed mainly on the ground floor, but includes an upper floor located in the inner bay of the plot above the master bedroom, creating a double-height space in the living room. The floor plan has a very clear structure, organised through small modular bays in both directions, connecting the different spaces. The slope of the roof defines the interior volume of the spaces, generating variable ceiling heights.

III. Framed Landscape

From a landscape perspective, the project will adapt the surroundings of the building to make them accessible and will include gardening and landscaping works, levelling the terrain where necessary to create small terraces and slopes planted with native vegetation in order to provide privacy and define a perimeter pathway. The remainder of the plot, where construction is not permitted, will remain in its natural state, preserving its existing condition.

IV. Materials

The façade will be ceramic masonry construction. It will consist of an outer leaf of exposed brickwork up to approximately 2.40 m in height, with ceramic blockwork (“gero”) above, and an inner ceramic block leaf with thermal insulation on its inner face to reduce energy demand. Two façade finishes are proposed with differentiated textures: exposed brick for the base, more robust and textured, and a smoother, more homogeneous finish for the upper part. The façade colour will consist of earth tones, predominantly browns, to integrate the building into its agricultural surroundings. Ceramic lattice screens made with the same ceramic pieces are also proposed to provide privacy while allowing natural light and ventilation.