House in Vall de Bianya

On approaching this house in a remote valley in northeastern Catalonia, all that you see is a part of the roof rising up to road level out of the sloping terrain. The rest seems to merge seamlessly with the landscape. A ramp separates the garage and building services from the actual living quarters. The entrance portal is the only element to break the plane of the smooth exposed-concrete walls. Throughout the house, the occupants are aware of the natural surroundings, thanks to the incised entrance ramp, the inner courtyard and the carefully positioned openings in the building’s exterior. Light, too, enters every corner, facilitated by generously sized interconnections between the rooms.