A Modern Family Home Framed By A Solid Concrete Wall

Whenever discussing on the subject of houses located in densely populated residential areas or in the city, the issue of privacy comes up. Without letting ourselves drawn into the subject too much, we thought we’d show you one of our most resent finds – a beautiful house located in Navarre, a region of Spain. The area is characterized by very narrow and exposed plots and we didn’t expect the house to have much privacy due to that. However, MLMR Arquitectos surprised us in a very beautiful way.

This is a house which tames an uneven piece of land in a densely populated residential area
This is a house which tames an uneven piece of land in a densely populated residential area
You can't really tell that the site is sloped or uneven in any way just by looking at the house from this side
You can’t really tell that the site is sloped or uneven in any way just by looking at the house from this side

The architects completed this project in 2017 and the result was a modern family home which deals with the challenges of the site in a way that ultimately benefits its design. In order to delineate the site and to offer the level of privacy the owners needed, the architects came up with the new of a concrete wall which would form an L shape and which would adapt to the unevenness of the land, being pretty high in some areas and semi-buried in others.

Given the proximity to the neighboring properties, the house needed a way to gain privacy and the layout offers it that
Given the proximity to the neighboring properties, the house needed a way to gain privacy and the layout offers it that
The house also gains a lot of privacy through this large concrete wall which shelters it on two sides
The house also gains a lot of privacy through this large concrete wall which shelters it on two sides

This concrete wall allows the house to stay discreet and intimate in relation to its surroundings and the neighboring structures while at the same time maintaining a close connection with the garden. The house is oriented towards south and east and opens toward the private garden which is sheltered by the concrete wall and the building itself. As far as the design of the house is concerned, there is a notable difference between the interior and the exterior appearance.

The building forms an L-shape and wraps itself around a garden which is also delineated by a concrete wall
The building forms an L-shape and wraps itself around a garden which is also delineated by a concrete wall
The L-shaped floor plan allows several spaces to be oriented towards the garden and to have direct access outdoors
The L-shaped floor plan allows several spaces to be oriented towards the garden and to have direct access outdoors
The living area is open and spacious and features a large sliding glass door which connects it to the garden
The living area is open and spacious and features a large sliding glass door which connects it to the garden

On the outside, the house has a somewhat rough look, especially the facades facing north and west which are constructed out of concrete and zinc panels. These two sides of the house are pretty closed off. On the other hand, the facade facing the garden is open and mainly made of wood and glass. The materials used on the exterior of the building are natural and showcased in their pure form, without being covered or painted. They include concrete, zinc and iroko wood treated with oil. The interior, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. In here the surfaces are mostly white with a few exceptions such as the flooring in the bedroom and some of the pine wood partitions.

The lower section of the house contains the lobby, the service area and this minimalist garage
The lower section of the house contains the lobby, the service area and this minimalist garage
The social area houses the usual kitchen, dining room and living space combo and they're all well-connected to the garden
The social area houses the usual kitchen, dining room and living space combo and they’re all well-connected to the garden
The large sliding glass door in the living area lets in lots of sunlight and brings in the fresh colors of the garden
The large sliding glass door in the living area lets in lots of sunlight and brings in the fresh colors of the garden
White is the main color of the interior design, being used in combination with gray and natural wood accents
White is the main color of the interior design, being used in combination with gray and natural wood accents

Although the interior is more abstract compared to the exterior which emphasizes the pure nature of the materials involved, the spaces have their own way of feeling welcoming and cozy. The seamless connection with the private garden brings with it the advantage of lots of natural sunlight. In addition, the garden is also a source of color for the internal areas and their decors.

The kitchen only has a narrow window and positions the users with their back on the rest of the living area
The kitchen only has a narrow window and positions the users with their back on the rest of the living area
The dining area is the space between the kitchen and the living room and in a way it doubles as a buffer between them
The dining area is the space between the kitchen and the living room and in a way it doubles as a buffer between them
The simplicity of the color and material palette is maintain throughout the house without exceptions
The simplicity of the color and material palette is maintain throughout the house without exceptions