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.

all images by Javier de Paz García

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.

Casa Violetas is organized around a semi-enclosed central courtyard

thick exterior walls create a solid and private facade

the semi-enclosed patio acts as the center of the house

open and enclosed spaces alternate throughout the house

natural light flows through the living area with exposed timber beams

the architecture balances privacy with visual openness toward the courtyard

the layout ensures visual connection between interior spaces and the patio

the minimal exterior volume is defined by light and shadow

facade detail highlights the openings and volumetric composition

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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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom