SAU Taller d'Arquitectura proposes three main volumes for "Vil·la Emma," arranged east to west and connected by covered interstitial spaces, enhancing the relationship between interior and exterior. These volumes adapt to the terrain's contours, creating different interior levels, each housing a distinct program: volume 1 for bedrooms and bathrooms; volume 2 for the living room, bathrooms, and suite; and volume 3 features a multipurpose space linked to the garden and pool.
The interstitial spaces also accommodate part of the functional program: the first interstitial space houses the living-dining-kitchen area, separated by sliding glass doors; the second creates a porch that connects the three solid volumes or cubes, finished with white lime plaster.
"Vil·la Emma" bySAU Taller d´Arquitectura. Photograph by Andrés Flajszer.
Project description by SAU Taller d´Arquitectura
Vil·la Emma is a single-family house located on a plot of nearly 850 m² in Binibequer Viejo, Menorca. The site, square in shape and with gentle topography, is defined by dry-stone walls and vegetation, with only one of its edges providing direct access from the street.
The house is organized on a single level, rotated 45 degrees in relation to the perpendicular axis of the plot. This configuration ensures framed views through the existing surrounding buildings towards both sunrise and sunset. The house is composed of three main volumes aligned along an east–west axis, interconnected by covered interstitial spaces that operate as porches. This strategy enhances the dialogue between the domestic interior and the surrounding landscape.
Volumetric fragmentation in response to the terrain
The three distinct volumes respond to the slight variations in site levels through different interior floor heights. Each “volume” accommodates a specific part of the functional program:
Volume 1: Night area with 3 bedrooms (1 en-suite) and 2 bathrooms. Volume 2: Living area, 2 bathrooms, and an additional en-suite bedroom. Volume 3: Multipurpose space with bathroom, closely connected to the garden and swimming pool.
Interstitial spaces conceived as habitable porches
The voids between volumes are transformed into porch-like spaces open to the garden. The first interstice contains the living–dining–kitchen area, enclosed with sliding glass panels that allow for full openness and continuity. The second forms a generous outdoor porch that links the three volumes, enriching the transition between interior and exterior.
Clear volumetry and austere materiality with high environmental quality
The volumes are conceived as solid cubic forms, finished with white lime plaster, contrasting with the lightness of the porches, which are built with timber structures and glass enclosures. This duality reinforces the distinction between “enclosed” spaces and “porch-like” spaces.
Vil·la Emma is a proposal that brigs together volumetric clarity, landscape integration, and spatial quality, through a functional architecture that merges seamlessly with its exterior spaces.
