joan ramon pascuets + monica mosset complete climate-informed 'calders house' in catalonia

barcelona-based architects joan ramon pascuets and monica mosset have completed ‘calders house’, a private home located in a small village in the center of catalonia. sited near the natural park of ‘sant llorenc del munt i l’obac’, the house is designed to maximize views of the surrounding landscape.

all images by adrià goula

the spatial program of the home is intended to maximize the residents’ interactions with the outdoors. taking cues from the natural sloping site, joan ramon pascuets and monica mosset — who lead architecture practice narch — placed the garage and studio on the upper level, and positioned the common social areas on the lower level. sunken into the surrounding garden, the spatial program allows residents to flow freely from the garden to the inside the home. 

the spatial program of the home is intended to maximize the residents’ interactions with the outdoors

‘we wanted to create a continuity between the natural setting and the house’, explain the architects. a multi-functional and flexible space that can be opened and closed was placed as in between space between the home and the garden. the transition zone allows residents to feel both indoors and outdoors, experiencing the breeze and climate of the surrounding nature. the use of glass doors throughout the design create the illusion of a building with no walls, maximizing natural lighting and ventilation. 

the structure defines the form of the house 

the transition zone allows residents to feel both indoors and outdoors

glass doors surround the space allowing light to enter freely

taking cues from the natural sloping site, the design team placed the garage and studio on the upper level

the social common areas are sunken into the sloping site

the home acts a bay window framing views of the natural setting 

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