Soto de la Marina. Bezana. Cantabria

The houses are located on the highest part of a plot in Soto de la Marina, on a steeply sloping site that was previously stabilized by a large retaining wall. This intervention has created a large elevated platform offering spectacular views to the south, forming a spectacular plateau on which both houses are built.

The development is located at the highest point of the platform, occupying the northern strip and leaving the southern side free for a large communal garden that allows residents to fully enjoy the landscape. Pedestrian access and vehicle shelters are located in the northern area, connecting to the upper street via a semi-private landscaped road. Access to the underground garages is from the lower street, integrated into the sturdy retaining walls. The scale of these walls is softened by the creation of an outdoor garden at street level with a careful design that combines concrete and stone gabions, achieving a harmonious integration with the environment.

Each home has been designed in a personalized way, adapting to the needs of its respective owners. Thus, one of them has a larger surface area and spatial development, while the other is configured on a more contained scale, both maintaining architectural coherence within the complex.

The south façades, which constitute the main image of the homes, are organized through a compositional interplay of ceramic bands that frame large panels of glass and rough stone. However, each one offers its own interpretation of this language, presenting a unique image toward the garden that reinforces the identity of each home. This light and permeable solution favors the capture of sunlight and orients the main rooms towards the south through porches and terraces. In contrast, the north façades are closed with blind panels, designed to protect the interiors from inclement weather and ensure privacy.

Each home also has a landscaped courtyard carved into its north façade, which acts as an interior circulation hub. These courtyards, rich in space, generate cross-views between interiors and exteriors, enhanced by the double heights that accompany the cantilevered staircases. They also allow natural light to enter the lower floors, creating complementary recreational spaces and expanding the living experience.

The complex is enriched by a variety of shared and private outdoor spaces: recreational areas with a swimming pool and jacuzzi, terraced vegetable gardens, patios of different shapes and materials, and the landscaped plateau.

Inside, both homes follow a minimalist and refined architectural style, inspired by Nordic aesthetics but complemented with local materials such as stone and wood, which evoke the architectural tradition of Cantabria and create a warm and timeless atmosphere.

The project incorporates passive architecture strategies, such as eaves and awnings that protect the windows from solar radiation during the warm months, optimizing thermal comfort. Likewise, the ventilated ceramic facades not only add aesthetic value, but also allow heat to dissipate in summer and provide thermal inertia, improving energy efficiency and promoting sustainable use of resources.

MOAH Arquitectos. Estudio de arquitectura e interiorismo