living between two planes: fran silvestre's house floats in andalusia

a house in the Exclusive community of Sotogrande

Fran Silvestre Arquitectos continues its study in minimalist architecture with this newly completed House in Sotogrande, Spain. Much of the firm’s work characterized by its emphasis on simplicity, clean lines, and its use of a restrained material palette, and this home is similarly reduced to its essential elements. Located in front of a coastal golf course, the house is designed with an emphasis on the interplay of light and shadow. It features a cantilevered roof that extends beyond the main structure, providing shade from the intense Cádiz sun while also offering protection from the heavy rains descending from the Sierra de Grazalema, the region with the highest rainfall in the Iberian Peninsula. The house’s broad connection to the landscape highlights its intention to blend into the natural context rather than dominate it.

images © Fernando Guerra

Spatial Definition and Materiality

The architects led by Fran Silvestre complete this house in Sotogrande, a sprawling coastal residential community in Andalusia known for its luxury villas, golf courses, and exclusive marina. The design incorporates a wooden volume within the core of the building, ensuring privacy for the interior spaces while introducing warmth throughout. The house is defined by four key elements — the ground plane, the overhanging roof that generates shade, the glass facade that ensures efficient climate control, and the wooden interior that enhances the overall comfort. These elements work together to create a balanced composition where openness and intimacy coexist.

Entry to the house is from the upper street, offering an elevated perspective of the reflective water feature and surrounding landscape. This water element is not just aesthetic, it serves as thermal and acoustic insulation, regulating the internal temperature by absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling. This sustainable approach aligns with contemporary architectural trends that emphasize energy efficiency and environmental integration.

Fran Silvestre Arquitectos embraces minimalism with a focus on simplicity and functionality

fran silvestre’s Environmental Considerations

The residence follows a compact spatial arrangement, with a central core that houses vertical circulation and skylights, bringing natural light to the interior. The roof and ground planes are subtly shifted to create a covered entrance and an infinity pool that visually extends into the golf course. By embracing a minimalist design with a focus on material efficiency and environmental sensitivity, House in Sotogrande achieves a refined and serene living experience. The project prioritizes minimal environmental impact, as the team hopes to enhance the experience of inhabiting a shaded, tranquil space in Sotogrande.

the House in Sotogrande opens broadly onto its natural surroundings

a cantilevered roof provides shade and protection from both sun and heavy rainfall

Sotogrande is an exclusive coastal community known for luxury and privacy

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project info:

name: House in Sotogrande

architect: Fran Silvestre Arquitectos | @fransilvestrearquitectos

location: Sotogrande, Andalusia, Spain

area: 802 square meters

completion: 2024

design team: Fran Silvestre, Carlos Lucas, Paco Chinesta, Neus Roso

interior design: Alfaro Hofmann

building engineer consultants: Agustín Jiménez Suárez
structural engineers: Estructuras Singulares
general contractor: Mar State Construction, Manuel Bancalero Guerra
project manager: Adán Bolaños

collaborating architects: María Masià, Pablo Camarasa, Ricardo Candela, Estefania Soriano, Sevak Asatrián, Andrea Baldo, Angelo Brollo, Paloma Feng, Javi Herrero, Gino Brollo, Facundo Castro, Anna Alfanjarín, Laura Bueno, Toni Cremades, Susana León, David Cirocchi, Nuria Doménech, Andrea Raga, Olga Martín, Víctor González, Pepe Llop, Alberto Bianchi, Lucía Domingo, Pablo Simò, Andrea Blasco, Laura Palacio, Carlos Perez, Jovita Cortijo, Claudia Escorcia, Ana Bono, Andrea García, Diana Murcia, Fran Ayala