Perched on a dramatic 100% slope in the Catalonian landscape, Magarola House by Raúl Sánchez Architects does not defy gravity so much as it collaborates with it. Rather than cutting harshly into the terrain, the house rises with a sense of deference, delicately balanced on slender concrete “legs” that preserve the natural rock face below. The result is a home that appears to hover above the slate, forming a light architectural crust that blends into the environment without surrendering its sculptural clarity.
From the street, Magarola presents a quiet, stoic façade: rectilinear, hermetic, and aligned to the golden ratio. But as the ground drops away, the architecture reveals its ingenuity. Concrete screens, more architectural vertebrae than traditional foundation, brace the home while letting the hillside flow freely beneath. A cantilevered stair, referencing the poetry of Carlo Scarpa, delivers guests to the main level, a terrace that unfurls seamlessly from the kitchen and dining area, set with a monolithic concrete-and-ceppo di gré island table.
Inside, spatial fluidity reigns. The lower floor is organized around a central core that houses the staircase, bathroom, and pantry, freeing the perimeter for uninterrupted views and movement. A built-in bench spans the entire valley-facing glass wall, inviting moments of quiet observation. Instead of a traditional entry, visitors arrive through experience, welcomed not by a door, but by light, air, and a table ready for conversation.
Upstairs, bedrooms and bathrooms are arranged around a central hall that opens to balconies framing fragments of the forest. Sliding panels allow for reconfiguration, privacy, or openness. Even the shower is positioned to capture views, redefining the bath as a moment of retreat into nature.
Structurally, the house is a masterclass in restraint. Slim 20 cm concrete slabs and exposed concrete screens carry the load with elegance; no internal supports interrupt the clean geometry of the interiors. Radiant floors, an aerothermal system powered by rooftop solar panels, rainwater reuse, and rigorous insulation strategies complete the home’s sustainable credentials. All but two trees on the site were preserved.
Materially and philosophically, the home is grounded in place. Earthy tones and local textures anchor the volume, while the lighter valley-facing façade, painted in a pale yellow, signals openness and visual release. The dialogue between house and hillside becomes one of respect and reciprocity.
Magarola House is not simply built in the landscape. It is part of it. A quiet gesture of architectural intelligence, lightness, and grace.
