More House: Cantilevered Home Makes the Most of a Small, Funky Plot in Spain

Posted By Tafline Laylin On January 28, 2013 @ 5:07 pm In Architecture,carousel showcase,gallery | No Comments

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Acha Zaballa Arquitectos ^[6] was commissioned to build an attractive family home on a small and funky plot in the Montealegre area of Cantabria, Spain. Although it's blessed with verdant green surroundings, this tiny plot in a rural neighborhood could easily have been devoured by a decent sized home, leaving nary an inch over in which to "play." That's why the design team opted to stack the house in three cantilevering volumes ^[7] that save space and provide room for a small, private garden.

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The plot was almost square with a protruding band, so the best solution for this family was to stack the house vertically. The material palette used – reinforced concrete with a light timber facade – reflects two aims: first to maximize energy and material efficiency ^[8] and reduce waste and to allow the owners, who are keen rock climbers, to practice their moves ^[9] on the exterior retaining wall!

The homes arrangement of two 7.5 x 9.3 meter volumes stacked on top of a third volume measuring 4.8 x 9.3 meters frees up garden space. The SE-SW orientation ensures an optimum level of solar gain ^[10] in the garden while still providing shade for hotter summer months. The interior, which actually appears quite rough and barren in these initial images of the project, is organized around a central stair. All in all, we’re impressed with the creative use of space in a home that defies the sameness characterizing the rest of the homes in the area.

+ Acha Zaballa Arquitectos ^[6]

Via Architizer ^[11]

Photos via Josema Cutillas

Article printed from Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com

URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/cantilevering-more-house-makes-the-most-of-a-small-and-funky-plot-in-spain/

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[5]  : http://inhabitat.com/cantilevering-more-house-makes-the-most-of-a-small-and-funky-plot-in-spain/more-house-by-acha-zaballa-arquitectos-02/?extend=1

[6] Acha Zaballa Arquitectos: http://www.achazaballa.com

[7] cantilevering volumes: http://inhabitat.com/the-cantilever-house-in-utah-is-a-solar-powered-home-for-burning-man-regulars/

[8] maximize energy and material efficiency: http://inhabitat.com/vennesla-librarys-ribbed-prefab-design-features-energy-efficient-strategies-in-norway/

[9] keen rock climbers, to practice their moves: http://inhabitat.com/super-slim-outdoors-indoors-home-in-japan-is-capped-with-a-rock-climbing-wall/

[10] optimum level of solar gain: http://inhabitat.com/tag/solar-gain/

[11] Architizer: http://www.architizer.com/en_us/projects/pictures/more-house/49208/419291/#.UQZ3y6VTOfQ

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