House in El Port de la Selva
The house sits into a triangular-shaped piece of land with a steep slope towards the north, located in the high part of El Port de la Selva.
In order to minimize the visual impact of new structures, local regulations do not allow the built volumes of the house to exceed the uppermost point of the land. In keeping with these regulatory restrictions, the house is terraced and a south facing entry patio is carved out of the terrain.
This patio is protected from the strong, persistent Tramontana winds. Two mulberry trees and hanging shades afford protection from the intense summer sun. Extending on the north face is a wide terrace with sea views through the pines. The main central body houses the kitchen, dining room and lounge, all of which open directly onto the terrace to the north and the main patio to the south.
To keep the house naturally cool in the summer, the house is built with thick 36cm walls of double-leaf brickwork with mineral insulation in-between and the roof is ventilated, made with prefabricated vaults and beams that are left exposed on the inside. The outside of the house is rendered with lime mortar and protected from the salty atmosphere by silicate paint.
