A Minimalist Eco-Friendly House Designed With Sustainable Materials

An enduring love of the outdoors inspired the design of this Madrid home by Spanish design firm Ábaton, which is a calming sanctuary rooted in eco-conscious principles

For Madrid-based design firm Ábaton, sustainability is indeed a key pillar of its creative approach. Founded in 1998 by Camino Alonso, Ignacio Lechón and Carlos Alonso, the Spanish design and construction company strives to unite their creative vision with sustainable principles to build timeless, eco-conscious abodes.

This beautiful house in Madrid is a prime example. Home to a family of five,the 7,534 sq ft abode stands on a large plot measuring over 32,000 sq ft, close to the Casa de Campo park. The clients hired the firm 12 years ago to build their previous house; in the time since, the couple have had three children and wanted a new home that could accommodate their family’s growing needs.

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Above The two-storey floor plan of this house was designed to make the most of the property’s hilly terrain

“As this was the clients’ second project with us, we knew their tastes and interests very well; they had full confidence in our decisions, which made the job very easy,” says Camino Alonso, co-founder of Ábaton and lead designer on the project. “Aesthetically, they did not set any conditions, letting us experiment with shapes and materials, within the studio’s own style.”

Ábaton was in charge of all elements of the project, from the architectural and interior design to the landscaping and construction of the home; Alonso worked closely with his architect colleagues Guillermo Santos and Carlos Jiménez as well as interior designer Miriam Arias and landscaper Fernando Alonso to create a home in perfect sync with its setting.

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Above A view of the home’s entrance from the garden

the architects designed the house in such a way that it is well ventilated, while employing energy-saving passive cooling and heating strategies throughout the year

Above The architects designed the house in such a way that it is well ventilated, while employing energy-saving passive cooling and heating strategies throughout the year

“We wanted to design a very comfortable and functional house that would take advantage of the entire plot and blend in with the vegetation,” says Alonso. “The first decision was to place all the spaces for daily use on a single floor, and in order not to lose natural light and ventilation, to incorporate patios that would also function as other rooms in the house itself.”

Above The swimming pool features an overflow concept that connects the second storey to the ground floor

Thus, the firm proposed a two-storey floor plan with all rooms having direct access to the outdoor spaces. Besides featuring architectural elements that reduce humidity and loss of temperature, a mechanical ventilation system improves air quality and minimises the reliance on heating and air-conditioning. The home also uses mineral wool for insulation instead of petroleum-derived products.

Furnished with an &Tradition table, Vitra Belleville chairs by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and a Punt Mobles sideboard, this barbecue area is among the family’s favourite places in the home

Above Furnished with an &Tradition table, Vitra Belleville chairs by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and a Punt Mobles sideboard, this barbecue area is among the family’s favourite places in the home

Spanish architect Javier Carvajal’s brutalist house, Casa Carvajal, served as a key source of inspiration. Built in the 1960s, Carvajal’s family home was designed around its hilly site; Ábaton’s project faced a similar challenge given the uneven plot.

“Within the minimalist Mediterranean style that exists in all our projects, we also kept in mind the reference of Casa Carvajal. Its relationship with the environment, and the presence of patios that order (the layout of) the entire house, were fundamental influences on the final result.”

Above Knoll Conference chairs by Eero Saarinen add pops of colour to the dining room with their bright yellow upholstery

Above This bench area is among the cosy nooks found throughout the home

Furthermore, this energy-efficient abode has been built with eco-conscious materials such as cross-laminated timber (CLT). “We like to use CLT for many reasons,” says Alonso. “It is a more environmentally friendly material compared to concrete, it greatly reduces the execution time on site, and it is cut numerically so the margins of error are minimal, saving on money and the unnecessary use of materials.”

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Furnishings such as the Zanotta William sofa by Damian Williamson, and the Knoll Grasshopper coffee tables and Knoll KN02 reclining lounge chair by Piero Lissoni contribute to the cosy tableau in the airy living room

Photo 1 of 2 Furnishings such as the Zanotta William sofa by Damian Williamson, and the Knoll Grasshopper coffee tables and Knoll KN02 reclining lounge chair by Piero Lissoni contribute to the cosy tableau in the airy living room

Photo 2 of 2 Concrete walls add a rugged touch to the home

The ground floor incorporates amenities such as a guest area, gym, garage and a separate entrance that connects to a patio which serves as the nexus of the home.

“This patio makes the spaces that surround it visually relate to one another. It allows the entry of light from the south into the north of the house, and vice versa. It is also designed to remain open during the warmer months of the year,” says the architect.

Above Large sliding doors open up the house and blur the boundary between the indoor and outdoor areas

The patio leads to the dining area, kitchen and living room. The calming sounds of the pool and water feature contribute to the tranquil atmosphere in the dining area, where the firm sought to create a multisensorial experience. “The dining room is a space where great attention has been paid to details like how the smell of the orange tree will enter the interior, to how the reflection of the sun on the water produces shadow play on the ceiling.”

Above The dining area and kitchen look out to lush views of the garden, which features a wide variety of perennial plants

In contrast, the kitchen is designed as an intimate space with its lower ceiling height. The concrete ceiling also references the materials used in the sheltered barbecue porch, which has become the family’s regular hangout: “Their favourite space is the barbecue area, an extension of the kitchen that is completely surrounded by nature.”

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Located on the second storey, the south-facing master suite enjoys some of the best views in the house

Accent cushions in warm hues and a rug contribute to the tactile look of this bedroom

The children’s shared dressing room was designed to foster interaction between the siblings

Photo 1 of 3 Located on the second storey, the south-facing master suite enjoys some of the best views in the house

Photo 2 of 3 Accent cushions in warm hues and a rug contribute to the tactile look of this bedroom

Photo 3 of 3 The children’s shared dressing room was designed to foster interaction between the siblings

While the owners made frequent visits to the property during the renovation, they were still pleasantly surprised by the result. “After the first few nights there, they invited us to come back to their home to tell us about the things that still surprised them,” quips the architect. Just like how every home can be said to be a work in progress that adapts to its owners’ changing needs, the landscaped gardens too will grow and change with the passing of time.

Above The master bathroom features a recessed bathtub as well as a ceiling and floor clad in cross-laminated timber

The generous plot size and the owners’ love of nature enabled the team to create beautiful landscaped terraces and a meadow beside the master suite

Above The generous plot size and the owners’ love of nature enabled the team to create beautiful landscaped terraces and a meadow beside the master suite

All in, this project beautifully combines the firm’s technical finesse with an elegant and eco-conscious design that will stand the test of time. “With every new project we take on, we try to reduce our carbon footprint. This has been our most ambitious project in terms of the search for comfort and energy efficiency, and trying to ensure that this does not affect the design at all.”

Above The April-May 2022 issue of Tatler Homes Singapore

This cover story appears in the April-May 2022 issue of Tatler Homes Singapore, available soon on newsstands and at Magzter.

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Photography

Belen Imaz/Photofoyer

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home tour sustainability interior design furnishings decor eco-conscious homes

Tatler Asia

Home Tour: A Minimalist House Built With Eco-Conscious Materials