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Project

Single-family House in Cervelló

- Cervelló, Spain

A passive single-family home in Cervelló, utilizing the steep terrain for climate control and energy efficiency.

Modern two-story house with flat roof and glazed atrium, surrounded by other houses and mountains.

A modern two-story house with a flat roof and a central glazed atrium. The house features multiple windows with wooden shutters and a small garden area in the foreground. The surrounding area includes other residential buildings and a mountainous landscape in the background.

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Story

Single-family House in Cervelló

Harnessing the Terrain for Passive Climate Control Nestled into the steep landscape of Cervelló, this single-family home by Arqbag transforms a challenging site into a climatic asset. The design strategically utilizes the land's natural slope to enhance passive climate control, creating a home that is both energy-efficient and harmoniously integrated with its environment. The house is composed of two distinct volumes that cascade down the slope, connected by a glazed atrium. This central space plays a crucial role in regulating temperature and ventilation. The atrium captures solar radiation in the winter, distributing warmth throughout the home via a wood stove, while in the summer, it functions as a ventilation chimney, ensuring passive cooling. The structure employs a single layer of lightweight ceramic block for its primary volumes, providing both thermal mass and insulation. This material choice, combined with the atrium's strategic design, allows the house to operate passively, minimizing energy consumption and maintenance costs. The spatial organization offers a variety of living experiences. The central level houses the kitchen and living areas, seamlessly extending to an outdoor space with a pond, barbecue, and a separate study. The lower level connects directly to the garden and vegetable plot, while the upper floor features a loft area with bedrooms, offering privacy and expansive views.

Design Highlights

Two cascading volumes connected by a glazed atrium Lightweight ceramic block construction for thermal efficiency Atrium functioning as a passive climate control system Diverse spatial arrangement with central living areas and private upper loft Integration with the steep terrain for natural energy efficiency

Key Facts

Key Aspect Detail
Architect Arqbag
Location Cervelló, Spain
Year 2024
Surface Area 186 m²
Collaborators BBG Estructures, Guillem de Pablo, Emilio Sanchiz

Technical summary

Updated 3/26/2026

Finishes

  • Exterior: Light-colored ceramic block walls with wooden window shutters.
  • Interior: Exposed brick walls and wooden beams.

Materials

  • Ceramic block — Used for the exterior walls providing thermal mass and insulation.
  • Wood — Used for window shutters, beams, and interior finishes.
  • Glass — Used in the glazed atrium and large windows.

Construction / Systems

  • Passive climate control: The atrium captures radiation in winter and acts as a ventilation chimney in summer, ensuring passive comfort.

Products

  • Heating — Wood stove (Distributes heat throughout the house in winter.)

Palette / Lighting

  • Colors: Light-colored ceramic, Natural wood tones
  • Lighting: Natural light through large windows and atrium.

Images

Modern two-story house with flat roof and glazed atrium, surrounded by other houses and mountains.
Modern house with flat roof and wooden shutters on a sloped plot with garden.
Hillside residential area with various houses and trees.
Building facade with three wooden-framed windows and ceramic block walls.
Modern house exterior with ceramic block walls and wooden window shades, surrounded by a garden.
Exterior view of a modern building with ceramic block walls, metal louvered windows, wooden slatted panels, and a chimney.
Facade of a modern building with ceramic blocks and wooden poles in the foreground.
Close-up of a building corner made of light-colored ceramic blocks with a window, against a bright sky.
Building facade with angled glass windows and light-colored wall, surrounded by trees.
Building facade with a window and a brick wall with red flowers.
Exterior view of a modern house with brick and metal cladding, featuring large windows and a wooden door, with a garden and wire fence in the foreground.
Exterior view of a modern house with a small pool, wooden doors, and a facade with glass and wooden elements, surrounded by hills.
Wooden door with metal handle set into a light-colored ceramic block wall with climbing plant.
Close-up of a building's exterior with wooden cladding and corrugated metal roofing.
Close-up view of a building's exterior wall and window structure with ceramic blocks and metal framing.
Detail of a building facade with wooden panels and glass windows with adjustable louvers.
Interior of a house with a central atrium, wooden beams, brick walls, metal staircase, and a wood stove.
Interior room with large glass doors, brick walls, and a wood stove.
Interior room with exposed brick walls, wooden furniture, and a large glass door.
Interior of a house with wooden beams, large windows, a metal chimney, and brick walls.
A detailed view of a wall constructed with lightweight ceramic blocks and supported by wooden beams.
Cat sitting by a wooden-framed glass door with a view into a kitchen with wooden cabinets.
Interior corner with wooden beams, light ceramic block walls, and windows.
Interior corner with glass windows and wooden frames, featuring adjustable slats.
Interior room with wooden walls and large windows, featuring a drying rack.
A staircase with metal railings, wooden beams, and ceramic block walls in an interior setting.
Wooden cabinet door next to a red ceramic block wall.
Close-up of a wooden staircase with vertical slats and wood grain wall.
Interior view showing a wooden staircase, a window, and an exposed brick wall.
Bathroom sink area with wooden walls, a mirror, and toiletries.
Wooden interior with a sink, faucet, mirror, and electric toothbrush.
Wooden staircase with wood grain next to an exposed brick wall.
Wooden wall with round window and partial kitchen sink view.
Small bathroom with light wood paneling, toilet, sink, mirror, and shelf with toilet paper and towels.
Interior room with wooden floor, wooden cabinet, exposed ceramic block walls, and a wooden railing.
Interior of a house with staircase, terracotta tiles, ceramic block walls, and potted plants.
Interior of a house with a wood stove, brickwork, metal staircase, and wooden railings.
Interior of a wooden atrium with large windows overlooking an outdoor landscape.
Room interior with wooden ceiling beams, a bed, window with blind, and a dark wooden dresser.
Floor plan of a single-family house with rooms and outdoor space layout.
Floor plan of a single-family house showing interior layout and surrounding landscape.
Site plan showing the layout of a single-family house with garden and vegetation.
Site plan showing a single-family house with garden, trees, and pathways.
Section drawing of a house on a slope with multiple levels and vegetation.
Section drawing of a house showing two levels with a sloped terrain and vegetation on the roof.
Section drawing of a building with multiple levels, featuring vegetation on the roof and facade.
Section drawing of a building with two main volumes, windows, and trees.
Section drawing of a house on a slope with multiple levels and interior details.
Section drawing of a house with interior layout and exterior landscape.
Section drawing showing a house with multiple levels and a sloped terrain.
Architectural section drawing of a house with two volumes and a central atrium, illustrating airflow and structural elements.
Section drawing of a multi-level house on a slope, illustrating interior spaces and structural elements, labeled 'winter'.

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