Spain Houzz: Sustainable Materials and a Smart Layout Win the Day
Creative use of environmentally friendly materials and a clever approach to layout were key to this stunning revamp
This unique terrace-style house – which was selected for the 2022 FAD Architecture Awards – sits cheek-by-jowl alongside its neighbouring properties in Cádiz, Spain, and overlooks the Rock of Gibraltar. While redesigning it, architect Juan José Baena faced severe constraints: he was limited by a tight budget which, he tells us, is about 20 per cent below the average for this type of project; and at less than four metres wide, the home’s extreme narrowness proved a creative challenge.
The narrow site before works.
“We asked the studio to create a bright and cosy home within our tight budget. We wanted to be able to enjoy outdoor spaces, such as patios and terraces, but we also wanted them to be well-connected to the living room and the kitchen. We like natural materials and asked them to incorporate them as much as possible,” says owner Maria José Ojeda.
The first task was to build two load-bearing dividing walls made of perforated ceramic brick, an inexpensive material that is usually covered in a finish, but which the clients decided to leave exposed. “These walls, in addition to providing colour and texture, act as a thermal insulator to improve the energy efficiency of the house,” says the architect.
Keen to renovate? Find architects near you with experience designing energy-efficient homes
“We asked the studio to create a bright and cosy home within our tight budget. We wanted to be able to enjoy outdoor spaces, such as patios and terraces, but we also wanted them to be well-connected to the living room and the kitchen. We like natural materials and asked them to incorporate them as much as possible,” says owner Maria José Ojeda.
The first task was to build two load-bearing dividing walls made of perforated ceramic brick, an inexpensive material that is usually covered in a finish, but which the clients decided to leave exposed. “These walls, in addition to providing colour and texture, act as a thermal insulator to improve the energy efficiency of the house,” says the architect.
Keen to renovate? Find architects near you with experience designing energy-efficient homes
All the materials used, including perforated brick, natural lime mortars and ceramic on the vaulting, have a low environmental footprint. “The light terracotta ceiling, with ceramic vaulting, is used as the framework for the roof of the house. It has no other coating aside from the thin, natural lime plaster that covers the walls of humid areas such as the bathroom,” the architect says.
The floor is made of polished concrete. Walls with light fixtures or in wet areas are partly covered with natural lime mortar (pictured).
The floor is made of polished concrete. Walls with light fixtures or in wet areas are partly covered with natural lime mortar (pictured).
At first, the owners wanted to place the living room on the ground floor and the bedrooms upstairs, but the architects convinced them otherwise.
“It was our responsibility to educate the clients and help them understand that this plan didn’t make sense due to the location and climate of the home. By swapping them and making calculated use of sunlight, they now have cooler areas for resting and day areas with plenty of natural light,” says Baena.
“It was our responsibility to educate the clients and help them understand that this plan didn’t make sense due to the location and climate of the home. By swapping them and making calculated use of sunlight, they now have cooler areas for resting and day areas with plenty of natural light,” says Baena.
The result is one that the architects are proud of. “It’s difficult to highlight just one space in this home. I believe the living room is the most impressive, because you see the exposed vaulting we used for the ceiling [pictured below]. However, I also really like the ground floor, where the couple’s bedroom is located, as the bathroom is connected to the patio which creates a relaxing, intimate space,” says Baena.
The team was on a very tight budget, so they focused on the bare necessities. For example, the house has no heating or air-conditioning and the uncoated walls, made of exposed brick, help insulate the home in a cost-effective way.
“Rather than seeing these constraints as limitations, we used them to design a home with character and personality. By stripping the home down to its bare bones, there was nothing we had to take away or do without,” says Baena.
“Rather than seeing these constraints as limitations, we used them to design a home with character and personality. By stripping the home down to its bare bones, there was nothing we had to take away or do without,” says Baena.
All window and door frames are made of anodised aluminium. Here we see the courtyard on the ground floor. “We managed to provide natural light to all rooms in the house,” says Baena.
The living room is on the middle floor and features a custom-made sofa designed by the architecture studio. In fact, this home has barely any furniture – it doesn’t need it. As paradoxical as it may seem, the raw materials themselves dress up the spaces.
“We knew it was important to lay the bricks straight and leave the joints clean because they weren’t going to be covered up. The bricks have an irregular texture as they were the economical option, and are made to be coated or painted. An important piece of furniture, so to speak, is the spiral staircase. It was a completely bespoke piece made by a blacksmith. It is a true work of craftsmanship and cost €2500 [AU$3900 at time of publication].”
Browse more beautiful living spaces featuring exposed brick
“We knew it was important to lay the bricks straight and leave the joints clean because they weren’t going to be covered up. The bricks have an irregular texture as they were the economical option, and are made to be coated or painted. An important piece of furniture, so to speak, is the spiral staircase. It was a completely bespoke piece made by a blacksmith. It is a true work of craftsmanship and cost €2500 [AU$3900 at time of publication].”
Browse more beautiful living spaces featuring exposed brick
Floor plans of the home.
Seen here in the floor plan, each level connects to an outdoor space (courtyard, terrace and rooftop), which allows for natural light to flood all levels of the house.
The house has two bedrooms and two bathrooms – there is a third space that is now used as a laundry, but could be turned into another bedroom in the future.
Seen here in the floor plan, each level connects to an outdoor space (courtyard, terrace and rooftop), which allows for natural light to flood all levels of the house.
The house has two bedrooms and two bathrooms – there is a third space that is now used as a laundry, but could be turned into another bedroom in the future.
The decision to place the bedrooms on the ground floor made it possible to include a singular central space of greater height that visually connects all the exterior spaces of the property.
For this purpose, a vault was designed, “which simultaneously embraces and decompresses the space”, says the architect. The living room also has access to a terrace, effectively linking indoors and out.
The kitchen is on the top floor, with views of the iconic Rock – La Línea de la Concepción, where this home is located in Cádiz, is about 500 metres from the border with Gibraltar.
“Each space in the house is different, even if they are all related. On the ground floor, we really like our cosy bedroom with a private patio that fills it with light. On the first floor, the living room is spacious and bright, with direct sun in winter and which stays cool in the summer due to its high ceiling. Additionally, it has direct access to a terrace. We also love the kitchen with a terrace that allows you to eat outside year-round to enjoy the views of the sea and mountains,” says the owner.
Your turn
Which elements of this beautifully detailed home do you love? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save your favourite images and join the renovation conversation.
More
Ready for more great design? You won’t want to miss this stunning Japan Houzz: A Family Holiday Home Immersed in Nature
“Each space in the house is different, even if they are all related. On the ground floor, we really like our cosy bedroom with a private patio that fills it with light. On the first floor, the living room is spacious and bright, with direct sun in winter and which stays cool in the summer due to its high ceiling. Additionally, it has direct access to a terrace. We also love the kitchen with a terrace that allows you to eat outside year-round to enjoy the views of the sea and mountains,” says the owner.
Your turn
Which elements of this beautifully detailed home do you love? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save your favourite images and join the renovation conversation.
More
Ready for more great design? You won’t want to miss this stunning Japan Houzz: A Family Holiday Home Immersed in Nature
Who lives here: Maria José Ojeda and her partner, who are expecting a child
Location: Cádiz, Spain
Size: 166.22 square metres
Architects: Juan José Baena Martínez, Marta Gómez Martínez and Joanna Jedrus Cabrera of EovaStudio
“This south-facing home, with magnificent views of the Rock of Gibraltar, enjoys great natural lighting, ventilation and attractive views for a low-budget renovation project with difficult execution conditions,” says Baena.
The home was extremely narrow and long – just 3.5 metres wide and 15 metres long – but its height makes up for its narrowness. “Since the available plot was so narrow, we decided to focus on creating a visual connection between the three storeys and ensuring that each of them had access to an outdoor area via a spectacular ceramic vaulted ceiling,” he says.