Houzz Tour: A Relaxed, Rustic Home With a Surprising Feature
Clinging to the side of a hill, this three-level house was built to optimise sightlines over the Montserrat mountains
This house in Barcelona, Spain, is architect Jorge Campreciós’ dream come true. Taking a cue from architectural inspirations such as Pierre Koenig and Richard Neutra, he built a statement home that adapts to its landscape and offers magical views of the Spanish countryside – not to mention a sneaky pool that pops up where you’d least expect it.
Campreciós and Garí met in Ibiza and lived in Boston for five years, where Campreciós worked for several architectural studios and gained a masters degree in engineering, while Garí worked as a journalist. Now, both work from home in the real estate industry.
On hot days, they take a break to swim in the unique pool pictured here.
On hot days, they take a break to swim in the unique pool pictured here.
Inspired by the big names of modern architecture, such as Pierre Koenig and Richard Neutra, Campreciós sought to adapt his home’s design to the landscape. The result is a structure that, from certain vantage points, recalls the bow of a ship. Moreover, “the windows and doors towards the pool, which gets unobstructed light from the south, are essential to the natural lighting of the day area,” Campreciós says.
The house is situated on a steep slope, and has a total of three floors: the top floor hosts an office that overlooks the pool, and a bathroom with a shower; the middle level includes a large living and dining space, the kitchen with a breakfast corner and a large pantry, and a cloakroom; finally, the lower floor contains the children’s bedrooms, the master bedroom with its en suite bathroom and dressing room, and a laundry area.
The house is situated on a steep slope, and has a total of three floors: the top floor hosts an office that overlooks the pool, and a bathroom with a shower; the middle level includes a large living and dining space, the kitchen with a breakfast corner and a large pantry, and a cloakroom; finally, the lower floor contains the children’s bedrooms, the master bedroom with its en suite bathroom and dressing room, and a laundry area.
There are two entrances to the house, both on the south side. While the family use the entrance on the middle floor, visitors approach the house from the street on a wooden path that leads to the guest entrance on the top – street-level – floor.
Find a local architect on Houzz.
Find a local architect on Houzz.
The office on the top floor looks out onto the pool. This space is exclusively for the parents’ use, since the children have study corners in their bedrooms. On this floor there’s also a bathroom with a shower.
This is the north side of the house, which offers incredible views. It’s a quiet environment with a lot of fresh air. “At night, we hear Dom barking, usually because a wild boar is approaching,” the couple’s daughter, Sofia, says.
Northern section
The interior stands out for its clean lines and open, functional spaces. Concrete, steel and wood were the primary materials used throughout.
“[The design] came from the intersection of lines projected from the vanishing points obtained from the intersection of the boundaries of the property,” Campreciós says. In this way, the home was optimised for the views dictated by the boundaries of the property.
Iron fireplace, Rocal.
“[The design] came from the intersection of lines projected from the vanishing points obtained from the intersection of the boundaries of the property,” Campreciós says. In this way, the home was optimised for the views dictated by the boundaries of the property.
Iron fireplace, Rocal.
The terraces on the north side of the home offer views of the mountain. The owners like to barbecue or read here.
The deck is Cumaru wood – also known as Brazilian teak – which is very hard and durable, and therefore easy to care for and ideal for outdoor spaces.
The deck is Cumaru wood – also known as Brazilian teak – which is very hard and durable, and therefore easy to care for and ideal for outdoor spaces.
The house offers beautiful views of the Montserrat mountain range in the distance.
Here, the family – with the exception of the oldest son, who’s studying in Boston in the US – pose on the cantilevered staircase.
The staircase is made of steel plates welded to a plate anchored to the concrete wall. “This is designed to be integrated naturally into the interior space,” Campreciós says.
The floor of the house is oak, while the kitchen features faux-slate ceramic flooring. Black is the dominant colour, because the couple wanted a dark hue to make this open kitchen recede from view. The cabinets are from Cocinas Santos and the countertops are made of Zimbabwe black granite.
The centrepiece of this space is a big island, where guests often gather.
The centrepiece of this space is a big island, where guests often gather.
The wainscoting in the breakfast corner is made up of wine corks collected by the couple. Behind the dining room area is a big pantry, ideal for this large family.
As already mentioned, the bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry area are on the lower floor. This is the master bedroom.
This whole level has underfloor heating, while cross-ventilation provides passive cooling. “This level is the most comfortable on both the hottest and coldest days,” Campreciós says. “It has something like a cave effect.”
This whole level has underfloor heating, while cross-ventilation provides passive cooling. “This level is the most comfortable on both the hottest and coldest days,” Campreciós says. “It has something like a cave effect.”
The bedroom includes a spacious dressing room at the entrance. It also has a spa area with a hot tub and rain shower. Garí says she tries to reserve time “at least once a week for this little pleasure”.
The railing on the middle storey terrace, made of stainless-steel cables, inclines inwards to, once again, express the nautical theme that sea-enthusiast Campreciós loves so much. But it was also designed that way for safety. “When we moved in, the children were 11, four and three years old, so we wanted something they wouldn’t be able to climb,” he says.
Tell us…
What do you love most about this unusual home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What do you love most about this unusual home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here? Jorge Campreciós, Ariana Garí, and their three children, Gonzalo, 21 (who’s studying in Boston), Sofía, 14, and Nando, 13, plus Dom, their Jack Russell
Location Barcelona, Spain
Size 350 sq m
Architect Jorge Campreciós of JC Architect
Photos by Jordi Folch