DL+A designs a fortress-like family house in madrid oriented towards a sunny garden

the boundary situation created by the site’s cornered position, together with its orientation, makes DL+A’s single family house be located in the northern area of a plot in madrid, on the back of its two entryways. it adopts a kind of fortress-structure shaped like ‘L’, pointing towards a public space, but totally opened to its private garden. the project is delimited by two glazed and really opened facades but is protected with a porch and a pergola from the direct solar gain, where a climbing plant and deciduous tree grow.

all images by imagen subliminal (miguel de guzmán + rocio romero)

spanish-based design firm DL+A orients each part of the house towards the sunny garden where domestic life takes place. it has a greater height on the northwest volume, accommodating in this area the living room, dining room and kitchen. these spaces need a greater ceiling height, causing the first floor — where bedrooms for children are located – to be elevated respect the northeast wing. inside the bedrooms, there is evidence of the roof’s varied height which becomes the lowest area on a terrace with fantastic view over madrid.

it is set on the back of its two entryways

DL+A’s design tries to integrate itself with the environment, highlights the closed fortress to the exterior and opens to the garden. the exterior facades are designed in white concrete with clapboard and exterior wood carpentry. the relation between the interior spaces and the garden is defined by large glass panels, fitted with solar control devices, while blind panels are built with perfect smooth, white concrete almost like stucco. setting aside the house within the contiguous plot, a shallow pool and a sheet of water are located and can be noticed from the interior through a window, which also provides a lateral shot of light in the side of the living room where the pergola becomes porch-like concrete slab completely covered.

DL+A orients each part of the house towards the sunny garden where domestic life takes place

delimited by two glazed facades, the pergola protects the porch from the direct solar gain

setting aside the house within the contiguous plot, a shallow pool and a sheet of water are located

it adopts a kind of fortress-structure shaped like ‘L’ 

the exterior facades are designed in white concrete with clapboard and exterior wood carpentry

DL+A’s design tries to integrate itself with the environment

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edited by: apostolos costarangos | designboom