The house in Cervelló, designed by Arqba, features a diverse range of spaces distributed across a lower level connected to the ground and an orchard. The kitchen and living area are linked to the outdoors by a small pond, barbecue, and a separate study. The bedrooms are located on the upper floor with a mezzanine.
The walls of the main volumes are composed of a layer of lightweight ceramic blocks and a glazed atrium where a wood-burning stove is located. These design elements, along with the building's volume adapted to the terrain and climate, result in a project that maximizes energy efficiency and reduces construction and maintenance costs.
House in Cervelló by Arqbag. Photograph by Marc Díaz.
Project description by Arqba
We are working with a steep plot where a construction challenge can be a benefit for climate control, using the land’s inertia and height to capture radiation and fresh air.
This single-family home is designed in two volumes, which are arranged down the slope, connecting the different levels of the surrounding terrain. The entrance is at the higher level, while the garden and vegetable garden are at the lower level. These areas are connected by a glazed atrium, which resolves the communications and regulates the temperature and ventilation of the two volumes.
The skin of the main volumes is made from a single layer of lightweight ceramic block, providing sufficient thermal mass and insulation. This is activated through the atrium, which captures radiation in winter and includes a wood stove to distribute heat to the rest of the house. In the summer, the atrium acts as a ventilation chimney, ensuring passive comfort in all living spaces connected to this central area, which also serves as a versatile meeting and rest space.
The result is a home that operates in a completely passive manner, with a wide variety of spaces. These are spread across a central level with the kitchen and living areas, linked to an exterior featuring a small pond, barbecue, and a segregated study. Below, there is a lower floor connected to the land and vegetable garden, while above, there is an upper floor with a loft area where the bedrooms are located, in a privileged space that offers both views and privacy.
By reducing the layers of the exterior and designing a volume that adapts to the land and climate, the project achieves maximum efficiency and reduces construction, maintenance, and daily costs for the family.
