rob dubois articulates barcelona residence in heavy concrete and glass

casa bielman – rios is a freestanding one family dwelling, located near barcelona, designed by rob dubois. the house comprises a completely open and free ground floor, with unobstructed views towards its surroundings through the curtain glass wall. the design also incorporates passive heating and cooling systems, along with self-generated electric supply.

rob dubois articulated the house’s strong geometric language using contrasting materials. a heavy concrete slab appears to wrap around a delicate glass volume defined by black aluminum profiles. the transparent volume hosts the double-height living room, the core of the residence’s social areas, and offers panoramic views of the landscape. the ground floor also integrates the kitchen and dining area into the living room, for a complete public gathering space.the second floor hosts the more private spaces such as the rooms and study areas.

the facade’s aesthetic concrete slab doubles as overhangs that prevent the sun from reaching the interiors during the summer. designed for passive heating, an installation using geothermal energy and a heat pump has been integrated in the floors and heats the house in wintertime. the same system provides passive cooling in the summer. in addition, voltaic solar panels hidden on the roof make the house practically independent of the electrical power network.

project info:

architecture: rob dubois

project name: casa bielmann-rios

location: barcelona, spain

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: cristina gomez | designboom