A V-shaped roof and a suspended patio define a Catalan flat

Sau Taller d’Arquitectura transforms the ground floor of a single-family building into an independent home. At the core of the project, natural light and ventilation. 

L’Esquirol House is located in the village from which it takes its name, L'Esquirol, in the Catalan comarca of Osona. The project by Sau Taller d’Arquitectura started with the client’s request to transform the ground floor of a single-family building into an independent, bright flat with shared spaces.

 L'Esquirol House
Taller SAU, L'Esquirol House. Photo © Andres Flajszer

Light and ventilation are the keystones of the project by the Catalan studio, which annexed part of the backyard to the existing house, a space of five metres in length. The new roof is V-shaped, providing light and ventilation without restricting or obstruct the upper flat.

L'Esquirol House
Taller SAU, L'Esquirol House. Section © SAU

To solve the problem of water drainage, the architects placed a C-section reinforced concrete beam at the point where the two roof pitches meet: on one hand, this element serves as a channel for rainwater collection, on the other is a support for the roof beams and a divider of the interiors.  

The space is organised into four zones in relation to each other, in a play of transparencies and openings defined by low walls and glass surfaces that let light through. The first part houses the garage and entrance, while the second includes kitchen, bathrooms and a studio, optimally positioned to receive natural light and air from the roof. 

L'Esquirol House
Taller SAU, L'Esquirol House. Photo © Andres Flajszer

Living room and bedroom occupy the annex, enclosed by the V-shaped roof. A patio suspended on the hillside overlooks the green space and leads, via a staircase, to a garden on the lower level.

Project:
L'Esquirol House
Location:
L'Esquirol, Osona, Catalonia
Program:
Private apartment
Architects:
Taller SAU
Consultants:
Capentry: Fusteria Vivet; Fluids and brick work: Centre Serveis Osona; Blacksmith: Joan Sanglas
Area:
120 sqm
Completion:
2021

Latest on Architecture

Latest on Domus

Read more
China Germany India Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Sri Lanka Korea icon-camera close icon-comments icon-down-sm icon-download icon-facebook icon-heart icon-heart icon-next-sm icon-next icon-pinterest icon-play icon-plus icon-prev-sm icon-prev Search icon-twitter icon-views icon-instagram