fernandez-abascal/muruzábal compose residence-study in mijares, spain

fernandez-abascal/muruzábal compose residence-study in mijares, spain
photo © pablo ausúcua

the ‘residence/study in mijares’ sits upon a rural site near the town of santillana del mar in northern spain. designed by architects eduardo fernandez-abascal teira and florentina muruzábal sitges, the house is partially sunken into its gently sloping site, while elevated at its southern corner to provide a small carport. the resulting composition can be seen as three interlocking volumes, which relate to one another through contrasting materials and an alternating window arrangement. beyond the typical living program, the single-family dwelling includes a workshop and small garden, while many of the interior spaces feature wide openings to adjacent outdoor areas.

the house is partially sunk into its sloping site, while elevated on the south corner to accommodate a carport
photo © pablo ausúcua

in describing some of the project’s influences, the architects describe the house’s design as follows:

‘the spaces have a certain air of the californian architecture of the fifties, so well portrayed by julius schulman and recreated by the artist rodney graham in his work ‘the gifted amateur’. they are characterized by the constructive solutions, the big sculptural openings that allow the entry of light and, the spreading of the building in the environment. the otherwise excessively industrial character is toned down by the natural wood used for the flooring, the wavy curtains and the furniture.’

the dwelling is surrounded by a grassy garden
photo © pablo ausúcua

the building’s exterior walls are either finished in aluminum paneling or left as exposed concrete, while the rooftop is covered in vegetation. interior surfaces are treated in a combination of materials including wood flooring, resin based mortar, glass, and gray limestone. to match its modernist feel, the residence includes furniture pieces by le corbusier, charles & ray eames, maarten van severen, ronan and erwan bouroullec, and patricia urquiola.

a wide glass wall connects the living and dining area to an outdoor patio
photo © pablo ausúcua

photo © pablo ausúcua

interiors are composed of concrete, wood, and glass surfaces
photo © pablo ausúcua

a spatially open stairwell links the three levels together
photo © pablo ausúcua

the office space opens to sliding glass doors on either side
photo © pablo ausúcua

the house’s vegetated roof accommodates an accessible small patio
photo © pablo ausúcua

photo © pablo ausúcua

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project info:

location: mijares, santillana del mar, spain
area: 553 sqm
architects: eduardo fernandez-abascal teira y florentina muruzábal sitges
collaborators: manuel díaz pardo, guillermo fernandez-abascal
developer: eduardo fernandez-abascal teira / sonsoles glez.valdes contreras
builder: construcciones sendalbo
structural engineer: miguel terán
installation: JG ingenieros
photography: pablo ausúcua