Home Architecture

Cross-Shaped House With Solid Stone Walls At Each End

By Simona Ganea | Published on

Located in Chiva, Spain, this beautiful house designed by architect Ramon Esteve features an interesting and very beautiful layout complemented by an array of natural materials such as stone and wood with the occasional weathered steel accents. This palette of materials and their natural finishes help to make the house blend in with its surroundings. The plot is surrounded by a pine forest so the architect and the clients wanted to take full advantage of that and gave the house a cross-shaped floor plan.

The solid stone walls allow the house to blend in with its natural surroundings while also offering it privacyView in gallery
The solid stone walls allow the house to blend in with its natural surroundings while also offering it privacy
The garage is placed below the largest of the two bedroom wings, featuring a sloping drivewayView in gallery
The garage is placed below the largest of the two bedroom wings, featuring a sloping driveway

The floor plan features four wings, each with a distinct function and each ending with a stone wall facing the forest. The two wings at the front of the house contain the living room, kitchen and dining area while the two at the rear house the bedrooms. The larger of the two bedroom wings sits on top of a garage. The internal spaces are organized around a swimming pool and a terrace. They’re each connected to different outdoor areas, based on the level of privacy they require.

Large windows and strategically-placed openings connect the interior spaces to the outdoors and the viewsView in gallery
Large windows and strategically-placed openings connect the interior spaces to the outdoors and the views
The house sits on a plot surrounded by the pine forest from all sides and this offered many advantagesView in gallery
The house sits on a plot surrounded by the pine forest from all sides and this offered many advantages
The living area's ceiling seamlessly extends outdoors, covering an open lounge area by the poolView in gallery
The living area’s ceiling seamlessly extends outdoors, covering an open lounge area by the pool
A tall stone wall sits between the living space and the poolside terrace, incorporating the fireplace chimneyView in gallery
A tall stone wall sits between the living space and the poolside terrace, incorporating the fireplace chimney
The stone walls are visible from inside the house and contribute to a very welcoming and elegant decorView in gallery
The stone walls are visible from inside the house and contribute to a very welcoming and elegant decor
The entrance leads into a foyer with glazed partitions which connect the different areas of the houseView in gallery
The entrance leads into a foyer with glazed partitions which connect the different areas of the house
The dining area features light wooden flooring, a simple table, white pedestal chairs and three stylish pendant lampsView in gallery
The dining area features light wooden flooring, a simple table, white pedestal chairs and three stylish pendant lamps
Each of the four wings and respectively the rooms inside feature views of the surroundings and in some cases glazed wallsView in gallery
Each of the four wings and respectively the rooms inside feature views of the surroundings and in some cases glazed walls
The kitchen is spacious and has its own special connection with the outdoors and to the adjacent internal areasView in gallery
The kitchen is spacious and has its own special connection with the outdoors and to the adjacent internal areas
The staircase has floating treads and a transparent glass wall without a railing which allows the light to naturally flow throughView in gallery
The staircase has floating treads and a transparent glass wall without a railing which allows the light to naturally flow through