The house is located on the edge of one of the growth areas in the center of Ongayo, an inland village in Suances. In recent years, following post-pandemic trends, a considerable number of detached houses have been built here. Despite this, the surroundings preserve the environmental and landscape values characteristic of an anthropized rural environment.
Two dwellings are built on the large plot, which slopes gently toward the south. Vehicular access to the properties is provided by a shared private road adjoined to the eastern boundary that descends through the estate. This house is situated on the upper part, close to the village road to the north, while the other is built on the lower part of the land. Additionally, a direct pedestrian entrance is planned from the public path. The house, designed as a compact volume integrated into the terrain, is positioned slightly rotated to improve its views, leaving the largest part of the estate for private use facing south and southwest.
The house features a rectangular floor plan and is developed over three levels: basement, ground floor, and first or attic floor. The ground floor is organized into two distinct zones. Pedestrian entry is through the northeast facade, sheltered by a porch located on the eastern corner of the house. A small foyer with a half bath connects to the basement level via a linear staircase and provides access to the day area. This spacious room contains the living room, dining room, and kitchen, occupying the entirety of the southwest-facing section. In the rear, accessed from the day area, are two bedrooms with two bathrooms.
A staircase open to the dining room leads up to the attic floor, which hosts an open living space, two additional bedrooms, and a bathroom with a wellness area. One of the rooms where the staircase lands is connected to the living room below through a double-height space.
The basement level, which can also be accessed from the shared driveway, contains a two-car garage, a workshop area, a laundry room, and the utility room.
The house extends outdoors on its best-oriented facade with large openings to the southwest, providing access to a paved area with a pergola. A swimming pool with a small deck area is situated on the lower part of the estate.
Interior Architecture and Atmosphere
The interior spaces are characterized by the interconnected layout of the various day zones—living room, dining room, and kitchen—the staircase leading to the attic, the void over the living room, and the window placements. These spaces are enhanced by the structural solutions and materials used—particularly the whitewashed pine wood on the walls, partitions, slabs, millwork, and flooring, alongside the gray microcement floors. Filtered light, a strong connection to the outdoors, and carefully designed artificial lighting further elevate the interior. The resulting spaces are functional, bright, warm, and comfortable, with custom-designed or selected furniture contributing to this overall atmosphere.
Form, Landscape, and Materiality
The shape of the house is defined by its floor plan, compact volume, gable roof, and the orderly composition of its windows, which are larger and more numerous toward the southwest. The envelope materials include charred wood in two tones, aluminum-finished window frames, and the black corrugated aluminum sheet metal on the roof. The dry-stone boundary wall has been rebuilt.
The plot is selectively landscaped with birch trees, maples, a holm oak, a crepe myrtle (árbol de Júpiter), and other perennial and aromatic plants—such as gauras, lavenders, salvias, rosemaries, and yellow and red dogwoods. This landscaping intentionally maintains the continuity of the meadows belonging to the adjacent livestock farms located to the south and west.
Sustainability and Construction
The construction solutions and mechanical systems are designed based on traditional sustainability and Passivhaus criteria—focusing on orientation, compactness, natural materials, proportioned and protected openings, water recycling, an insulated and airtight envelope, indoor air quality, and the use of renewable energy. The above-ground volume of the house is built with timber structures (walls, partitions, and slabs) clad in wood paneling, which rest on the underground plinth built with reinforced concrete slabs and walls.
While the installations are complex, the high level of insulation and solar protection systems have made it possible to eliminate costly HVAC systems. The house lacks traditional heating and air conditioning, relying instead on a ventilation system with heat recovery and electrical assistance for occasional heat supplementation.
The family is happy in their home... and they express it time and again.
Team:
Architects: Eduardo Fdez.-Abascal Teira / Floren Muruzábal Sitges
Consultants: DÝNAMIS (Engineering Firm)
Quantity Surveyor / Technical Architect: Cesar Blanco
Developer / Client: MS Managed Services Experts SL
Contractor: Construcciones Sorribero S.L
Photography: Jose María Cutillas
Materials Used:
Foundation and Structure
Foundations: Reinforced concrete footings, retaining and load-bearing walls, and basement ceiling slab.
Load-bearing structure (above ground): Above-ground floors, as well as horizontal and pitched slabs, built with 5-layer, 125 mm thick EGO-CLT structural panels by Egoin, featuring Siga's Wingluv low Sd-value airtightness tape.
Staircase: Pine wood staircase with lattice structure and steps between the ground and first floor, crafted by Carpintería Eguren.
Facades
Composition: Facades made of Egoin CLT panels, Isover Ecovent VN-032 mineral wool thermal insulation, Rothoblaas Traspir 135-3 waterproofing membrane.
Finish: Ventilated facade made of charred fir using 20 mm thick and 145 mm wide lapped Yakisugi boards by Degmeda.
Roof
Structure: Pitched roof featuring 5-layer, 170 mm EGO-CLT structural panels by Egoin.
Insulation & Waterproofing: 120+80 mm rock wool insulation panel lined on the inner side with a 120+80 mm vapor barrier; water-resistant OSB 3 board over treated pine battens; EPDM membrane waterproofing.
Finish: Alubel corrugated aluminum sheeting installed by Vidroplast.
Internal Partitions
Basement: Concrete walls and brick partitions in the basement floor.
Upper Floors: The aforementioned CLT walls and fir wood partitions, handcrafted seamlessly in continuity with the CLT.
Carpentry and Metalwork
Exterior Joinery: Mixed wood and aluminum frames with Smartwin Compact profiles and triple glazing. Treated and oiled pine wood entrance door, manufactured and installed by Carpintería Gardea.
Interior Doors: Pine wood doors treated with Rubio Monocoat oil, manufactured by Carpintería Eguren.
Stair Railing: Made of Egoin CLT panels and treated, oiled pine wood, crafted by Carpintería Eguren.
Pérgola: Built with various charred fir planks by Degmeda.
Flooring, Tiling, and Finishes
Garage: Polished concrete floor slab.
Basement and Ground Floor: Microcement flooring in all rooms.
Attic / Top Floor: Bleached oak hardwood flooring.
Wall Finishes:
Most vertical surfaces finished with treated pine and Rubio Monocoat oil.
Vertical surfaces, including wet rooms (bathrooms), finished with microcement
Ceilings: Plasterboard (drywall) suspended ceilings in selected rooms.
Paint: Keim silicate sol paint on surfaces not finished in wood or microcement, including concrete walls.
Building Services & Installations
Plumbing: Standard plumbing installation with ceramic and synthetic sanitary ware by Roca, and stainless steel faucets by Icónico. Includes a rainwater and greywater harvesting system.
Pool: Swimming pool water purification system.
HVAC: Ventilation system with heating and cooling supply by Zehnder.
Electrical: Standard electrical installation with various types of light fixtures by brands such as RZB, Lamp, Bega, Madeinled, Daisalux, Flos... mostly utilizing LED lamps.
Solar Energy: Photovoltaic installation with Ekesol Sun 156M panels, a Fronius inverter, and battery storage.
Special Systems: Telecommunications, intruder alarm, and fire protection systems.
Landscaping and Site Works
Plot Development: Perimeter/front wall made of masonry, various concrete walls, fencing made of treated pine posts and galvanized mesh. Gates made of steel profiles and sheet metal painted with Hempel's Hempalux synthetic enamel; pavements finished in microcement.
Pool Area: Swimming pool with deck/surrounds and linings finished in microcement.
Landscaping: Garden areas with diverse plantings, various trees, hedges, and lawn, supplied and planted by La Encina.
Furniture
Fixtures and Fittings: Miscellaneous furniture in bedrooms, kitchen, and bathrooms made of treated pine wood, High-Pressure Laminate (HPL), and Corian, manufactured by Carpintería Eguren.
