A Concrete House With A Perfect View Over The Golf Course

A great view should always be taken advantage of and architects and designers are the best at doing so. Adapting to the unique conditions and topography of the site helps to create a special bond between a building and the area around it. When designing this contemporary house from Spain, studio eneseis Arquitectura was faced with a unique set of challenges. 

The house was shaped around the slope and uneven terrain
The house was shaped around the slope and uneven terrain

The site is situated on San Juan beach in Alicante and a fairly uneven surface. It has neighboring plots and houses on all sides except for one which overlooks a golf course. This view became the central point of the project. The house was constructed in a way that allows it to use the slope for support and to mold around the unevenness of the topography. 

A desire for privacy from the neighboring buildings resulted in a opaque and rigid exterior design
A desire for privacy from the neighboring buildings resulted in a opaque and rigid exterior design
Although simple, the house doesn't lack character and has lots of subtle variations in texture and style
Although simple, the house doesn’t lack character and has lots of subtle variations in texture and style
The public spaces are arranged in an L-shape which gives them easy access outside and a good view of the gold course
The public spaces are arranged in an L-shape which gives them easy access outside and a good view of the gold course

A U-shaped layout was chosen in response to a strong desire to maintain privacy from all the neighboring buildings. As such, the house only opens up towards North which gives it a clean and uninterrupted view over the gold course. From the outside, it has a very robust and rigid appearance due to how simple the design is and to the palette of materials used throughout. Concrete is the defining material used for both the exterior and the interior in a variety of forms. 

Polished concrete floors and white walls create a contemporary aesthetic and put an emphasis on the views
Polished concrete floors and white walls create a contemporary aesthetic and put an emphasis on the views

The public spaces are all contained within a large, L-shaped area on the ground floor. They have access to a covered terrace and to the courtyard and enjoy a close connection to the outdoors thanks to the sliding glass doors and full-height windows. That places the bedrooms in a separate section of the house where they can enjoy lots of privacy but still remain connected to all the other spaces. 

The backyard keeps a low profile in order to not block the view
The backyard keeps a low profile in order to not block the view
Large glazed walls and sliding glass doors maintain a close connection between the indoor and the outdoor areas
Large glazed walls and sliding glass doors maintain a close connection between the indoor and the outdoor areas
The U-shaped floor plan creates a sheltered and intimate courtyard protected from neighboring views
The U-shaped floor plan creates a sheltered and intimate courtyard protected from neighboring views
The floor and the roof lines extend to form a covered terrace that looks and feels like a part of the interior
The floor and the roof lines extend to form a covered terrace that looks and feels like a part of the interior
The upper floor follows the slope and cantilevers over the bedroom area
The upper floor follows the slope and cantilevers over the bedroom area
The other three sides of the house are opaque and closed off and don't really interact with their surroundings
The other three sides of the house are opaque and closed off and don’t really interact with their surroundings
This isolated and sheltered design helps the house to focus on the beautiful part of the landscape
This isolated and sheltered design helps the house to focus on the beautiful part of the landscape