narrow house by hollegha arquitectos, madrid

bikini 32: narrow house by hollegha arquitectos, madrid
all images courtesy of pablo casares

‘bikini 32’, designed by spanish firm hollegha arquitectos in madrid, is a very narrow house that turns the site’s limitations into opportunities. by rethinking traditional structural systems, the 4.75m by 13m building feels surprisingly spacious and generous. a family home, with garden, swimming pool, space for guests and a studio with up to six work spaces – the existing topography is used to separate the private / non-private areas with two entrance points across the different levels. there is a strong connection between the inside and outside as interaction with life on the street is continuous but unobtrusive. these proportions make it possible to view the sun-rise and set from within the same room. large windows at ground level give a sense of weightlessness, and ‘bikini 32’ looks like it’s floating amongst the surrounding trees. cleverly, the architects came up with a façade concept that occupies only 18cm and offers perfect insulation for both cold and heat. columns are visible in the interior and structural elements are displayed in the material they are made of. the stairs connecting the three levels of the living area appear as a folded steel panel, while the rivets that hold the wooden façade create a visible geometric pattern.

the urban context requires 3-4m boundary clearance, ‘bikini 32’ turns the site’s limitations into opportunities

large windows at ground level give a sense of weightlessness

the building’s proportions make it possible to view the sun-rise and set from within the same room

there is a strong connection between the inside and outside as interaction with life on the street is continuous but unobtrusive

studio with up to six work spaces accessible by a private access

view looking from the studio to its entrance

the façade occupies only 18cm, offering perfect insulation for both cold and heat – columns are visible in the interior

the stairs connecting the three levels of the living area appear as a folded steel panel

hollegha arquitectos / scheme

project info:


project: ‘bikini 32’ house and office

architects: hollegha arquitectos / Brigitte Hollegha and Daniel Hollegha

site: madrid, spain

completion: 2010

total floor area: 236 m2

photographs: pablo casares
materials: steel, concrete, Wood

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