Beautiful Underground Annex Fits Snugly Into A Hillside

Somewhere in the rural Navarra area in Spain, there’s a beautiful old house built out of stone and with a classic gable roof. It’s modest and has tiny windows which don’t really allow it to make the most of the gorgeous views unfolding all around it. When it was time to expand it, the owners worked with architecture studio Jordi Hidalgo Tané and came up with the awesome idea of building an annex inside the adjacent hillside.

The annex slices through the hillside, fitting inside perfectly
The annex slices through the hillside, fitting inside perfectly
The original house and the new annex are connected via a transparent glass corridor
The original house and the new annex are connected via a transparent glass corridor

Although underground homes aren’t really known for providing the best views, in this case that actually works out great because of the orientation and disposition of the spaces. The annex was built using mostly concrete for both the roof and the floor and also a lot of the walls. Its shape follows the natural outline of the hill and that gives it a very organic look and allows it to look very natural in this setting. A glazed wall runs along the entire length of the annex, revealing the wonderful panorama and the gorgeous views of the mountain.

Although the new annex was added later on, it looks like it's been there since the beginning of time
Although the new annex was added later on, it looks like it’s been there since the beginning of time
The glazed wall offers a panoramic view over the entire surrounding area
The glazed wall offers a panoramic view over the entire surrounding area
The corridor that connects the two structures is made entirely of glass and has a concrete floor
The corridor that connects the two structures is made entirely of glass and has a concrete floor
The roof forms an overhang as it extends over the terrace, framing the mountain in the distance
The roof forms an overhang as it extends over the terrace, framing the mountain in the distance
A large dining table with a solid live edge top sits parallel to the kitchen counter
A large dining table with a solid live edge top sits parallel to the kitchen counter

Because it’s built into the hillside, the annex has a green roof and looks very natural, as if it’s been there for ages. The roof extends over an outdoor terrace, creating a sheltered area. The entrance into this underground annex is through a sliding door which immediately reveals all the indoor spaces. The space immediately adjacent to the glazed wall is lined with planters and reserved for admiring the gorgeous views. Inside this space there are a few different areas. One of them is an open kitchen with a large concrete countertop that extends to form a breakfast bar. There’s also an inviting lounge area and a big dining table with live edge top. The annex is connected to the main house through a glass corridor which gives access to the four bedroom suited placed on the two upper floors.

Exposed stone walls add a rustic-industrial vibe to the interior design
Exposed stone walls add a rustic-industrial vibe to the interior design
The glass corridor is transparent and brings lots of light into the annex
The glass corridor is transparent and brings lots of light into the annex
The bedrooms occupy the top two floors and have very simple interior decors
The bedrooms occupy the top two floors and have very simple interior decors
The combination of wood and concrete creates a balanced design and maintains a modern appearance
The combination of wood and concrete creates a balanced design and maintains a modern appearance
Architecture studio Jordi Hidalgo Tané Navarra Spain outdoor bbq