Öcher House | 2018

A robust concrete wall is the defining element of the project, shaping the house’s design and functionality. This high, semi-buried wall serves as a protective barrier, shielding the house from unfavorable orientations (north and west) and surrounding plots’ intrusive views. Additionally, the wall retains land, creating flat areas and accommodating the site’s steep slope.

The wall forms an “L” shape, opening the house entirely toward a private, horizontal garden oriented to the south and east. The garden-facing façade is inviting and warm, composed of vertical Iroko wood panels and expansive glass openings. In contrast, the north and west façades, forming the back of the “L”, are harsher, dominated by exposed concrete and zinc panels. A few strategically placed colored apertures allow light to filter in subtly.

A smaller, secondary “L” formed by another wall houses the lower section of the house, including the lobby, service area, and garage. This volume enhances privacy with a front façade of abstract Iroko wood, blocking visibility into the interior, and a rear façade integrated with the main wall, facing the garden. This setup ensures all interior views are directed toward the distant landscape while shielding the house from the access street.

The construction emphasizes planes rather than volumes. Concrete walls define the boundaries with the ground; wooden surfaces enclose the garden; and a zinc roof appears to float, slanting and projecting beyond the walls. Supported by metal pillars and partially resting on the garden façade, this roof seems to levitate, enhancing the house’s lightness.

This introverted, discreet design centers around the tranquil garden, creating a serene space that defies the narrow, exposed nature of the surrounding residential plots. Materials are natural and unadorned, reflecting their true characteristics: textured concrete, untreated natural zinc, and oil-finished Iroko wood.

Inside, the aesthetic shifts dramatically. The raw exterior materials give way to smooth, white surfaces on walls and ceilings, creating a more abstract environment. However, nods to the exterior’s material authenticity persist: bedroom floors and some vertical walls feature natural Danish pine, and exposed metal pillars, though painted white, remain visible. The sloped ceilings and partitions allow light to flow softly through the interior, enhancing the sense of calm.

The living room is the project’s focal point, positioned at the “L”’s endpoint. It is the largest interior space, seamlessly blending indoors and outdoors. A large sliding glass door and a zinc-roofed porch integrate the living room with the garden. The porch, only 236 cm high, frames the views of the garden and distant mountains near Pamplona. Behind the living room lies the kitchen, with soft Danish pine accents. The interplay of the sloped ceiling, low porch, and expansive glass invites a continuous relationship with the exterior.

This residential project achieves a delicate balance of isolation, privacy, and natural materiality. Careful attention to detail, from the textured concrete and untreated zinc to the warm wood accents, results in a home that harmonizes with its environment while providing a serene, secluded retreat.

Category:Private HomesLocation:Navarre, SpainArchitect: Víctor Larripa Artieda, SpainDesign Team: Víctor Larripa, Daniel Ruiz de Gordejuela, Javier Martínez, Javier MartínPhotographer: Jose Manuel Cutillas and Pablo García Esparza