Madeline Brooks
Housing in Garralda has been defined with two fundamental objectives, on the one hand, its landscape integration in an environment as cared for as that of Garralda and the Aézcoa Valley, and, on the other, to achieve the highest housing quality of the proposed homes.
After the analysis of the archetypal features of the traditional Basque-Navarrean “Caserío” (farmhouse), it was decided to divide the required program into two volumes, with steeply pitched roofs, whose proportions allow better adaptation to the volumetrics of the area. These two pieces are arranged in opposite directions to promote dialogue with the rural landscape.
The choice of materials is sensitive and respectful of the environment. The exterior envelope is made with only two materials. White mortar, using the SATE system, is chosen as the finish of the façade.
In gallery roofs and shutters, the material used is heat-treated pine wood, as a reinterpretation and recovery of the use of wooden tiles, typical of the Aézcoa valley. Both, the roof and gallery, thus merge into a single element that gives the proposal its own identity. This reinterpretation of the archetype of the “Caserío” allows the connection of the proposal with the collective memory of the place.
In the exterior space of the plot, no physical limits have been defined, allowing it to be understood as a continuity of the surrounding nature, the intervention acting as a connector between the natural landscape and the village.
In the design of the dwellings, the maximum flexibility, adaptability, neutrality, and spatial quality possible is sought, favoring different ways of living. There is one dwelling per floor in each of the volumes, on the first floor and under the roof, reserving the available space on the ground floor of both buildings for common uses.
The cross-laminated timber structure is placed on the façade and on the separation partitions between dwellings and the common spaces, favoring changes in the useful life of the dwellings. All spaces are sized to be adapted to difficulties in the mobility of the inhabitant.
Natural lighting and the arrangement of the openings are some of the most essential objectives that have been taken into account to ensure the quality of the interior space, as well as the provision of large outdoor terraces, which allow connection with the landscape of the area. The use of color and materials in the interior has been intentionally neutral, to facilitate the appropriation and characterization of the space for its inhabitants.
The proposal has also been designed taking into account criteria that improve its sustainability, not only at an energy level (for which the Passivhaus standard has been met) but also at an environmental level (reduction of the carbon footprint, maintenance of the water cycle, promotion of biodiversity), social (improvement of the quality of life and habitability conditions, linkage with the collective memory of the place), as well as economic (promotion of the circular economy).
Project info:
Architects: Nazareth Gutierrez Franco, Rodrigo Nuñez Arquitectos Country: Garralda, Spain
Area: 828 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Alberto Amores
Manufacturers: Egoin, Lunawood, FYT Lead Architects: Nazareth Gutierrez Franco, Rodrigo Nuñez Carrasco, Juan Carrascosa Guardia
Technical Architect: Asier Zarrazkin, Felipa Fernández
Structure Consultants: Leandro Morillas
Passive House Consultant: Ángela Sisternes
Installations Consultants: Aiciondo Macías Ingenieros SL
Tags: 2022Alberto AmoresHousing in GarraldaLunawoodNazareth Gutierrez FrancoRodrigo Nuñez ArquitectosSpain
Madeline Brooks
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.
