all images courtesy of lagula arquitectes

over ten years of steady construction culminated in the recent opening of 'casa bitxo' located in the rural area of bergueda on the cusp of the pyrenees mountains of northern spain. designed by barcelona-based practice lagula arquitectes, the home exhibits a very honest use of local material stretched out across the landscape of gentle hills. exposed concrete slabs frame an offset orange brick lattice that meets the street side and main entrance, visually filtering public views while allowing the diffused passage of light to the interior spaces. the linear angled plan translates the subtle grade change to the section with stairs that lead to a double-height living room area under a cantilevered roof plane extending out towards the mountains. large openings with characteristic red shutters open to the outdoors on the private half of the property. the earthen color palette is enlivened with various sections of vibrantly glazed tiles that reflect a functional changes in program-- a contemporary approach to a vernacular construction.

front elevation behind a ceramic latticework

(left) public elevation
(right) private elevation

side elevation under an overhanging concrete roof

house follows the natural contour of the terrain

large windows open views to the exterior and mountains

main interior space

double height interior with large windows

primary continuous horizontal circulation

kitchen area clad in blue and orange tiles

central structural core

kitchen

(left) entrance hallway
(right) behind the ceramic lattice wall

in context

project info:

client: queralt sales, xavier planas

budget: n/a
location: llac street 6, avia, bergueda, barcelona
area: 412 m2
architects: lagula architects / eduard reus
collaborators: jordi culell, technical architect
structure: estructures muvi