Surrounded by forests, fields and vineyards in the Penedés region of Spain, this house by nook architects is located in a small town that has recently seen new life and population growth thanks to the alternative education projects of its schools. Seeking out this education alternative for their children, the owners chose to relocate to the village with the vision of a low environmental impact wooden home in mind.
Prioritising quality of space over built area, the owners bought two plots originally intended for terraced housing with the idea of constructing a single home with three façade, larger interior space, and more distance from neighbours.
In total the house is made up of three floors. The ground floor takes up the entire base of the building while the upper floors have been shortened to form three tiered spaces. As one moves higher up in the house, rooms become more private while at the same time retaining a sense of community with all rooms opening up onto a triple central space.
The ground floor was constructed with concrete baseboard and thermal insulating clay blocks. The upper floors and sloping roof are constructed with CLT wood panels. Thermal bridges are minimized thanks to the thickness of the insulation both inside and outside the home. It is thus possible to regulate the temperature of the home via cross-ventilation, with roller blinds used to prevent solar radiation as needed.
In terms of interior concept, the home’s construction materials including the ground level and wood structure have been largely left exposed. Metal elements, such as structural pillars, aluminium trim, and railings, have been finished with copper.
Wallcoverings are applied to wet areas, where white tiles with terracotta grout are used. The idea is to select materials and colours that work both inside and outside, drawing attention to the home’s construction and structural materials.
