Spanish architecture practice Atheleia Arquitectura has designed a private house that features a series of parallel walls to enhance visual connections towards the landscape in Sant Julià de Ramis, Girona, Spain. 

Named Casa Límit (or Límit House), the house is located in the north of Catalonia, among the gentle valleys of the first elevations of the hills between the regions ofPla de l'Estany and Gironès. 

Situating on the edge between the hill and the valley with views over a cool and deep ground, it is surrounded by pine trees and holm oaks. 

The property has a steep slope between the entrance, on the south side, and the bottom of the plot, on the north side. The composition of the house arises from a series of parallel walls that enhance the visual connections between the North and the South, bounded by the hill and the valley, between the two gardens of the residence. 

These parallel walls offers privacy with respect to neighboring houses and fold to form the service spaces to generate a greater privacy from the street. 

At the same time, these walls are conceived as an element integrated into the landscape located on a level below the tops of the pines. This structure materializes in concrete of an earthy color with a vertical jointed formwork that dialogues with the surrounding trees. 

The parallel organization of the walls intersects with a diagonal axis that arises from the orography of the location, creating the shape of the facades and the flow of the interior.

The floor is divided into five parallel parts are related to each other following the geometry of the diagonal axis, generating different quality spaces both inside and outside. 

The first module contains the gymnasium and amenities; the second contains the living room, kitchen and dining room. The third and fourth spaces include rooms for the little ones, two bedrooms, a games room and its bathroom space. The last module contains a main bedroom, a bathroom and a dressing room for the parents, with the exterior look facing the pool space.

The sustainability criteria have been taken into account during the process of conception and construction of the house. It has been designed with low energy consumption and low emissions, with an aerothermal system as the source for air conditioning, integrating an air renewal system with a heat recovery unit. Other passive energy design criteria have included the use of porches to protect the openings from solar incidence and using cross vents.

Project facts

Project name: Casa Límit

Architects: Atheleia Arquitectura

Team: Salvador Tarradas, Borja Fernandez

Structure: Blazquez-Guanter

Infographics: J. Roland

Technician Architect: J.M. paniagua

Industrials Suppliers: Construtop - Grup Dabau (Constructora), Viernes (Formigó), Plantalech (Fusteries), Almohaya, Biot Renovables, (Climatització), Metàl liques Olot, Mia Cuina - Saitra, Cristalleries Tuloma, Cortinsa - Eduard Munells.

All images © Andrés Arias - Documenta Studio

All drawings © Atheleia Arquitectura

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