Sloping site house

Location

Sant Pol de Mar

Surface area

445 m²

Year

2024

Photography

Laia Tió Arquitectura

An enthusiastic client, an empty plot and everything yet to be built. This is how this project for a detached single-family home in Sant Pol de Mar first came to us.

Located in this coastal setting of the Maresme region, the site presented two main challenges from the outset: maximizing sea views and adapting to the steep topography that characterizes the area. The architectural response takes the form of a stepped house, composed of two above-ground levels and a basement, naturally embedded in the terrain and oriented towards the Mediterranean landscape.

One of the client’s key requirements was the ability to access the house from both streets that define the upper and lower boundaries of the plot. This condition, together with the intention to orient the building towards the views and optimal sunlight, shapes the functional organization of the project.

The design proposes a rectangular volume comprising a ground floor and first floor, with a flat roof and access pavilion, as well as a basement level primarily dedicated to parking. The building opens towards the south-east, seeking the best solar exposure and a direct relationship with the sea. The use of contrasting façade materials and the incorporation of cantilevers emphasize the volumetric composition and add visual depth to the architecture.

The ground floor accommodates the daytime living areas, conceived as open and outward-looking spaces, while the first floor houses the night area, with bedrooms oriented towards the views. The access pavilion provides one of the main entrances from the upper street, while the basement contains the main parking area and service spaces.

Outdoor areas are designed through a series of terraced levels, retained by planters and gabion walls, allowing the steep slope to be carefully shaped and creating a sequence of exterior spaces adapted to the site’s topography.

The result is a home that engages in dialogue with its surroundings, responding naturally to the terrain and transforming the slope and sea views into the project’s defining qualities.