Location: Alella, Barcelona, Spain Year of construction: 1988 Architects: Jordi Garces, Enric Soria Photography: Lluis Casals
The Casa Hidalgo has a floor area of 4,850 sq ft (450 m2) and sits on a plot that runs east to west and is bounded at the side by a steep slope running down to the road. Due to its elevated location, the building is well placed for sun and enjoys magnificent panoramic views to the sea.
Taking advantage of the topographical characteristics of the plot, Garces and Soria produced a highly creative design based on simple geometric lines. In this way, the singlefamily home is structured on an abstract set of three cube-shape buildings and three large windows that are interrelated by the variable rhythm of their relative positions. From the outside, the structure appears gigantic, sober, and uniform, since all its walls have been plastered and look like smooth gray surfaces.
The external geometric rigidity is diluted on the inside, where space is continuous and fluid; however, as the windows on the main facades are contained within their corresponding planes, the original triple cube composition that structures the architectural reality of the Casa Hidalgo is apparent inside the house.
Nevertheless, the inside of this unusual house contains all the conventional requirements and services of a contemporary home.
In the three cubes, the main facade facing the sea contains enormous rectangular metal-framed windows divided into large panels. These windows run from the ground to the ceiling of the upper floor in a single sweep, establishing themselves as the main features of the configuration of the building due to their very size.
Inside, plastered and painted brick walls alternate, with a predominance of light colors that intensify the environmental transparency created by the abundant natural light that the whole house enjoys.