Somo. Ribamontán al Mar. Cantabria
The house is located in a residential area on the outskirts of Somo, on a plot with open views and a gentle north-facing slope. The architecture adapts to this terrain softly, respecting the existing topography. The design stems from a clear compositional intent: a contemporary interpretation of traditional Cantabrian architecture through a material language that combines stone, wood, and white render, reimagined with the addition of large glazed surfaces, overhangs, and controlled voids. The result is a fragmented and dynamic composition in which the various volumes interconnect and engage in dialogue with each other and their surroundings.
Externally, the house is organized through an interplay of planes and volumes that weave together harmoniously, creating a composition rich in rhythm and visual interest. The central feature, a two-storey white volume, acts as the organizing core, interlocked with a series of irregular stone masses. The heaviness of these stone elements is visually softened through the introduction of glass panels and cantilevered elements. These gestures create subtle transitions between interior and exterior, forming porches and terraces that not only extend the living areas but also regulate solar exposure and protect against prevailing weather conditions.
The home’s energy strategy begins with an optimal orientation: the daytime living areas open to the south and west through large windows that maximize solar gains in winter, while overhangs and shading elements control direct sunlight in summer. The living room’s double-height space includes an upper band of windows, ensuring excellent natural lighting year-round, reducing the need for artificial lighting, and enhancing thermal and visual comfort. The north façade, conceived as an access and transitional plane, limits its openings to the strictly necessary, following energy efficiency and climate control principles. These choices, aligned with passive house standards, are complemented by a range of both passive and active strategies, including a highly insulated envelope, underfloor heating, and solar panels on the roof, optimizing the building’s energy performance.
On the ground floor, the public areas of the house are laid out along a longitudinal axis that begins in the entrance hall and culminates in a continuous space combining the kitchen, dining, and living areas—forming a fluid sequence of interrelated functions. This axis continues into the first floor, where the private rooms—bedrooms and study—are strategically positioned to capture the views and preserve privacy.
The interior design seeks a calm and restrained atmosphere, where the warmth of wood—present in floors, furnishings, and structural elements—dialogues with the sobriety of white surfaces and the transparency of glazed walls. This chromatic and material palette, inspired by Nordic architecture, creates a neutral backdrop that allows natural light and the surrounding landscape to become the true protagonists of the domestic space.
Ultimately, this house balances tradition and modernity with subtlety, always aiming for a strong and continuous connection between interior spaces and the natural environment.
MOAH Arquitectos. Estudio de arquitectura e interiorismo
