A Couple’s Home Strives for Sustainability in an Olive Grove Near Madrid

Slow Studio uses passive design techniques to create a brick house with a surprisingly light footprint.

Feb 24, 2022 - 02:34

A Couple’s Home Strives for Sustainability in an Olive Grove Near Madrid

Slow Studio uses passive design techniques to create a brick house with a surprisingly light footprint.

The structure is made of double-brick walls with insulation between each layer, which regulates indoor temperatures while still providing strong protection from the elements.

When the owners of this Spanish property met with Slow Studio, they were looking for a dwelling that would connect their lives with the world around them. "The clients are in engineering and fashion, and they wanted to find the best solution for their family in terms of design and efficiency," says architect Laia Montserrat Cortazar. "They also desired a passive house with zero energy consumption."

A shaded patio can be used throughout the year, creating an extra "room — The structure is made of double-brick walls with insulation between each layer, which regulates indoor temperatures while still providing strong protection from the elements.
Photo: Salva Lopez

Creating a compact footprint, where the living spaces all intertwine, keeps energy costs low. Sancal, a Spanish interior design firm, chose a natural palette to match the home's ethos. — Creating a compact footprint, where the living spaces all intertwine, keeps energy costs low. Sancal, a Spanish interior design firm, developed a natural palette to match the home’s ethos.
Photo by Salva Lopez

The couple sought out Slow Studio because of the firm’s expertise in sustainability and healthy living, which underscores the building materials and interior design details of each project. "They are a very conscientious family, and they sought a firm that respects high standards of well-being," says Montserrat Cortazar.