Home inside a box

Living in a building made up of multiple connected boxes – for architect José Gonzáles Gallegos, this was the perfect solution to the question of how modern architecture can be integrated into the natural surroundings in the best way possible. Divided into several floors, the house appears more compact and is less dominant over the landscape, since it is barely higher than its surroundings. This concept is supported by the texture and colour of the rusty Corten steel, which characterises the external appearance of the house and allows it to visually blend with the red-brown hues of the pine trees.

The position of the building along a north-south axis ensures that, even on the shortest days of the year, the rays of sunshine warm the façade. With the hot Spanish summers in mind, the architect and client decided to position the building on the highest plane facing the northeast. The generous opening widths of the Classic Design sliding doors allow the cool flow of air from the pine forest to circulate inside. The house opens up towards the landscape, allowing stunning views of the “La Herrería” Forest to the southwest and of the Royal Basilica of San Lorenzo de El Escorial to the east, a royal building built in the 1600s. From the large veranda, you can gaze over the domes of the palace and monastery.

The ground floor, which is also the main living area, is divided into a day and night area via the entrance, with the night area split into four bedrooms. The day zone is made up of the kitchen, a living and dining area, and the library, which is at the highest point of the building. The lower floor of the building houses a laundry room and utility room, as well as an office, playroom, workshop and a guest room with its own bathroom. The particular composition of the house and the embedding of the residential boxes along the hillside mean that residents and guests can enjoy the stunning views in all directions, even from the basement floor.