Palautordera

The plot is located at the center of an alluvial terrace with a very gentle slope of 0.8% towards the southeast. To the east and west, there are small valleys and ridges parallel to the plain’s slope, belonging to the foothills of the Montseny mountain range, with the massif to the north. The Tordera River, the Vallmanya stream, and the Reguissol torrent cross the plain from northwest to southeast, forming narrow, deep valleys filled with lush vegetation. Part of the terrace is cultivated with cereals, orchards, and small vegetable gardens. The area is located northeast of the historic center of the municipality.

The main design challenge for this project was that three generations would live together in the same home. It was essential to provide a degree of independence between spaces and ensure that, over time and with minimal interventions, some rooms could be reconfigured to integrate into a single housing unit. Additionally, the layout had to meet the specific spatial needs and dynamics of the users. The floor plan is organized into two asymmetrical longitudinal bands: one oriented southeast and the other northwest.

The southeast band houses the most frequently used spaces—living room, kitchen, and bedrooms—which feature large openings connecting to the garden. The northwest band contains circulation spaces, storage, and bathrooms, with smaller openings that help reduce heat loss during the colder months. Transverse partitions allow the different areas of the house to be separated.

A metal structure wraps around the southeast and part of the northeast façades, acting as a pergola to provide summer shading while also creating a terrace and independent access to the upper floor.

The main strategy was to reduce energy demand through architectural design and passive systems. The house was designed as compact as possible, with a rectangular floor plan and gable roof. The envelope is continuously insulated from the outside to avoid thermal bridges. The compactness helps optimize construction materials and, together with its geometry and insulation, significantly reduces energy loss.

The house is positioned at the northwest edge of the plot to maximize solar gain during winter in the southeast- and south-facing rooms. Due to the shallow depth between the two transverse façades, sunlight reaches both sides of the rectangle, warming almost the entire interior.

Summer shading is provided by adjustable exterior shutters and lightweight solar protection attached to the metal structure. For night cooling during the summer, all rooms benefit from cross ventilation—especially the south-facing ones. In the bedrooms, a small window at the upper mezzanine level further enhances air circulation.

The structure is built using cross-laminated timber (CLT), based on load-bearing wall principles. The perpendicular spans across the prism are approximately 5.3 meters. The floor and roof slabs are also made of CLT, allowing the horizontal and vertical planes to work together structurally. Additionally, the material makes it possible to leave interior surfaces exposed. Due to its light weight, timber construction reduces the need for heavy foundations, minimizing earthworks and concrete use. CLT can also be dismantled and reused, significantly lowering the building’s environmental impact.