Designed by Alventosa Morell Arquitectes, Casa CLO is located in a small coastal town in Tarragona, Spain. Built on a sloping plot, the house adapts to the site’s topography and existing woodland to create comfortable living spaces among the tree canopies.
A bioclimatic approach to the site
The site is characterised by rocky ground and a very steep slope, with access only from its lowest point. From the highest part of the site, the sea can be glimpsed in the distance through the pine forest. The clients acquired the plot to build a second home, with the intention of gradually spending more time in the tranquillity of the forest and close to the sea.
They wanted a house that could engage with its surroundings and, being familiar with Alventosa Morell Arquitectes’ philosophy, gave the studio freedom to define both the design strategy and material approach. The practice sees sustainability as an integral outcome of bioclimatic, context-responsive design that strengthens people’s connection with the natural environment and supports well-being.
Working with the slope and existing trees
The existing trees, slope, and planning regulations shaped the proposal. Significant earthworks would have been extremely costly, so the programme was organised into three volumes arranged at different levels in the upper part of the plot to take advantage of the sea views. The placement of the volumes responds to the position of the existing trees to avoid felling them, resulting in a slight rotation in plan that gives the overall composition a more organic configuration.
The house uses a timber structure in which the entire load is transferred to ten columns, limiting contact with the ground to ten point foundations. The lightweight structure echoes the verticality of the forest and helps carry this character into the interior of the house.
Glued laminated timber is combined with timber-frame walls, a timber roof, and a ventilated crawl space floor incorporating cellulose insulation. Wood-based structural boards and radiata pine are used throughout, with corrugated sheet cladding to the facade and roof. Internal timber partitions also contain cellulose insulation, while plywood and tongue-and-groove timber are used for flooring and shelving.
Living across three levels
Planning regulations required an excavation along the street edge, which was used to accommodate the parking area. From there, a stair along the side of the plot leads to the upper part of the site, first reaching the swimming pool and then the entrance terrace.
On entering the house, occupants arrive in a double-height dining space and kitchen. This large space visually connects the shared areas of the three volumes. A metal staircase provides access to the remaining levels, first leading to an upper level with a double-height study and bedroom, and then to two additional bedrooms on the top floor.
