Villa 18, designed by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos, consists of three volumes whose displacement creates an entrance courtyard on the north side. From the entrance, the geometric composition of the spaces forms a path free of pillars, facilitating flexibility in program and interior uses. The day area is arranged into two offset volumes of different heights, creating a platform with southeast-facing views. The main body reaches nearly one and a half stories in height. A third volume houses the sleeping area, which is more secluded and offers discreet outdoor spaces.
Through a study of different light tones in the materials, with nuances that create an engaging visual narrative, an integrated heterogeneity is achieved, allowing for a balanced perception of the various interior spaces. These spaces are defined by a wide range of white shades and are connected through different materials, such as natural stone, glass enclosure, ash wood, and water, which links the sky with the terrace and the various interior spaces, all of which open their views toward it.
Villa 18 by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos. Photograph by Fernando Guerra.
Project description by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos
The project features diagonal views toward a lake belonging to the La Moraleja golf course in Madrid. Given that the size of this location allowed for it, a home was proposed that develops primarily on a single floor. The daytime area is organized into two volumes of different heights that shift in relation to each other, creating a sheltered terrace that faces the landscape, oriented southeast. The main body has a height of almost one and a half floors. A third structure houses the nighttime area, positioned in such a way that it has its own more private outdoor space.
The interplay of the three built volumes forms an entrance courtyard, oriented north, which gives a distinctive character to the entryway experience. The geometry has a structural function, allowing for unobstructed views of the landscape without supports. This way, spaces may remain adaptable in the future for new uses and users.
Just as the Inuit and other Arctic peoples have, according to linguists, more than forty words to describe snow, in this project, we were challenged to find a very specific and extensive range of whites with warm undertones. These shades encompass everything from Colmenar’s natural stone to ash wood, which is found in the forests of Madrid, different types of brass with colors close to 9016, and lighting temperatures tending towards 2,700K. The aim was to achieve an integrated heterogeneity that would likely help to create a sense of calm within these domestic spaces.
On the lower floor, spaces dedicated to physical well-being are located, including the swimming pool, gym, and other complementary uses, all illuminated by a skylight. Each volume features a rounded edge, generating a dynamic visual reading. These curved elements are placed in the open terrace areas, facilitating construction while ensuring that all interiors remain orthogonal.
We have always been fascinated by this strategy in the work of Andreu Alfaro. In some of his pieces, the relationship between the straight line and the curve creates a continuous knot, where the eye appears to flow seamlessly from one element to another. As Maderuelo would say, we sought to "capture" this spatial quality from Alfaro’s sculptures. As a result, the main part of the house becomes a sort of continuous journey, where the swimming pool transitions into the terrace, which in turn integrates with the facades of the built volumes, ultimately closing the loop back at the pool. This approach highlights one of the many functions of the home: to be enjoyed by observing it.
