On the sloping coastline of Menorca, Zenith House by NOMO STUDIO unfolds as a natural extension of its setting. Surrounded by pine trees and native vegetation, the single-story home is defined by its low, linear profile and quiet deference to the terrain. Designed to minimize disruption, the structure adapts to the landscape through subtle folds and stepped platforms, preserving natural runoff and promoting resilience in the face of increasing climate extremes.
The home’s form is composed of eight square modules arranged in tangent, creating a porous structure of volumes and voids. These intentional gaps allow patios and gardens to be carved into the plan, generating a fluid transition between interior and exterior. A central axis organizes circulation as a slow sequence of framed views, culminating in a horizon-facing threshold where architecture meets sea.
Rooflines shift between horizontal slabs and four-sided pitched forms, integrating skylights that dramatize spatial shifts and enhance the play of light. With its high thermal mass and carefully calibrated openings, the house maintains a balanced interior climate while filtering natural light with subtle precision.
Spanning 300 square meters, the program includes five bedrooms, an open-plan living and dining area with a semi-open kitchen, and a covered porch that doubles as a transitional thermal buffer. The layout is guided by a soft gradient of privacy, where pathways function more as permeable thresholds than rigid corridors. The entrance arrives through a shaded courtyard, emphasizing arrival as a sensory pause rather than a formal statement.
Materially, the house is rooted in its place. Pigmented mortars in terracotta tones, off-white masonry, and sandy limestone floors blend seamlessly with the coastal palette. Raw finishes in okoume wood and travertine offer texture and warmth, enhancing the tactile connection to the land. A narrow water feature draws the eye outward, framing the sea in a moment of stillness and reflection.
With restraint, rhythm, and clarity, Zenith House offers a deeply considered approach to coastal architecture, one that favors quiet integration over spectacle, and connection over command.
