ramón esteve designs house in la cañada with a central atrium in valencia

in a residential area close to valencia, spain, ramón esteve has completed a one-story dwelling that strikes a balance between privacy and openness. designed for a site surrounded by pine trees and palm trees, house in la cañada seeks to offer protection from the exterior while affording connection with its immediate context.

all images © mariela apollonio

to achieve the seemingly contradictory aim of creating both privacy and openness, ramón esteve has pierced the square floor plan with a number of perforations. varying in size, each perforation serves to connect the house with the external environment and bathe the interiors in natural light. the largest of these apertures is located in the heart of the building and becomes a large central courtyard that marks the main access to the house like a roman atrium. with a large body of water to reflect the blue sky above, this atrium celebrates the act of entrance, making walking into the house a changing and pleasant occasion.

the central courtyard also functions to visually connect the ‘day’ and ‘night’ wings of the house, which are physically separated in a rational manner. the interior is developed to be fluid and flowing with visual connections maintained thanks to the pass-through fireplace and the low cabinets. the sensation of fluidity is enhanced by the use of minimalistic window frames that are embedded into the walls. the sliding panes are completely hidden into the walls, thus opening the house outwards and blurring its limits.

the selection of materials follows the original concept for the house: a warm and cosy home where its inhabitants would feel sheltered. the enclosing walls are thick stonemasonry walls that protect the interior. the wide glass panes are protected by wooden slats that can be adjusted or slide into the walls. by this means, the sun exposure and the views from outside can be modified.

the canopy that frames the entrance and protects the veranda is made of white exposed concrete. this massive, texturized and sheltering skin encloses the internal spaces, where the white colour and the polished materials are the main features. the garden can be contemplated from a neutral canvas made of lacquered surfaces, smoked glasses and a pavement of trowelled concrete.