casa violetas balances enclosure and openness through courtyard living in madrid

Werk Estudio organizes Casa Violetas around central courtyard

Casa Violetas by Werk Estudio is a detached single-family house in Madrid conceived as a continuous architectural form that folds around a semi-enclosed courtyard. The project is organised through a single linear gesture that gradually develops without fully closing, creating a sequence of spaces that alternate between openness and intimacy. At the center of the house, the courtyard becomes the core of domestic life, bringing natural light, vegetation, and ventilation into all the rooms while reinforcing privacy. The living area establishes a direct relationship between the courtyard and the garden, connecting a more protected outdoor environment with a larger social area designed for leisure and gathering. This spatial duality is also reflected in the architectural expression of the house.

thick white walls with limited openings enclose Casa Violetas

Towards the exterior, the building appears more solid and enclosed, defined by thick walls and limited openings. In contrast, the inner facade facing the patio becomes lighter and more permeable, allowing light and warmer materials to shape the atmosphere of the interiors. The project integrates bioclimatic principles to optimise thermal comfort and reduce energy demand. Cross ventilation, solar control systems, and natural daylight play an important role in the environmental performance of the house. Passive strategies associated with the Passivhaus standard are combined with aerothermal energy, underfloor heating and cooling systems, and photovoltaic panels. Through its spatial organization and relationship with light and climate, Casa Violetas by architectural studio Werk proposes a domestic environment centred on privacy, comfort, and everyday living.

project info:

name: Casa Violetas

architect: Werk Estudio | @werkestudio
lead architect: Mayte Rodríguez Junker & Adolfo Navarro Cano
location: Madrid, Spain

photographer: Javier de Paz García | @javierdepazgarcia

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