Single-family house on a sloping site in Calafell
Calafell
The home is located on the highest section of the plot, placing the exterior spaces—garden, pool, and play area—to the front, where they all enjoy the sunniest, south-facing side.
The design and interior layout of the home were conceived to establish fluid visual connections and cross-functional relationships between various rooms used during the day, all while ensuring each space maintains a certain level of independence.
These interior cross-connections are established between the kitchen, dining room, living area, and the study.
A generous opening creates a strong link between the kitchen, the dining area, and the living room, though a large sliding door allows for their complete separation when desired.
The combined living and dining space incorporates a central dividing element, conceived as a substantial piece of furniture. This strategically separates the dining zone from the lounge without physically enclosing or isolating either area. The divider houses a striking three-sided fireplace, which can be enjoyed from both the dining and living zones, paradoxically uniting the two functions. Additionally, the living area features a double-height space that connects it visually and physically to the upstairs study, which is accessed via the open staircase located at the end of the room.
The connection to the exterior through large openings and curated views is also a key feature throughout the house.
The dining room, living area, and study are oriented toward the south, situated in the front zone of the dwelling, while the service rooms and bedrooms are located in the more reserved rear section. On the ground floor, a full-height sliding door separates the day zones from the rear areas, where we have designed a bathroom, a laundry room, and a bedroom.
Almost all ground-floor rooms have direct access to the exterior, with each space expanding its specific use outdoors. The kitchen extends out to its own terrace, ideal for enjoying an open-air meal. The living and dining areas both open onto a single covered terrace facing south, offering views over the pool. The laundry room extends into an outdoor drying area, sheltered from direct views and excessive sun.
First Floor Layout and Bathroom Design
The open staircase, which contributes to the double-height space, opens up almost in the middle of the floor. To the left is the study, and to the right are three bedrooms. The master bedroom, complete with a dressing room, is situated in the most private area and is the closest to the shared bathroom. The design called for a single bathroom that was compartmentalized so that more than one person could use it simultaneously.
Project Development and Spatial Planning
This project proceeded at a very measured pace, aligned with the owners’ timing, which allowed for a thorough study of functional uses and their optimal arrangement in terms of solar exposure, shading, views, privacy, visual and exterior connections, and utility installations.
Wet areas are located in proximity to one another to minimize the length of utility runs. In this project, placing the first-floor bathroom directly above the laundry room made it possible to install a chute that connects the two areas, allowing dirty laundry to drop directly from the bathroom into the appropriate hamper in the laundry room.
Sustainable Systems and Energy Efficiency
As part of the renewable and sustainable energy strategy, solar power is harnessed via panels placed on the central flat roof of the house. These are perfectly located for maximum performance and are virtually invisible from all viewpoints. Additionally, an aerothermal heat pump system was installed, with the units placed in the basement utility room. This system—aerothermal combined with solar panels—achieves significant energy savings, resulting in a highly energy-efficient home.
Location: Calafell
Type: Detached single-family house, 2 floors plus basement
Client: Private
Built Area: 380 m2
Concept: The initial analysis focused on the plot dimensions, orientation, sun exposure, views, and functional program. We designed a two-story home, dedicating the entire day zone to the ground floor and the entire night zone (bedrooms) to the first floor. While the functional program is straightforward, the specific placement on the plot, the design of the volumes, and the interior distribution are what provide the requested unique qualities.