This Spanish home maximises autumn light thanks to clever design properties that enhance flow within the space.
When considering the components that constitute a home, most people envisage the roof, the windows, the floor and, of course, the walls and the doors. Yet this conventional notion doesn’t promote the style of living we’ve grown accustomed to. Hard barriers defy connection and adhere to a set of design principles that don’t always apply to a modern family’s goals.
In this home in Spain’s Navarra region, interior designer Susanna Cots has resisted the ease of traditional structure and defied convention to create a home that revolutionises the distribution of space. “Circulation and distribution are the protagonists of this house,” Susanna says. “Really, with this design we have managed to break the barriers of conventionality by creating spaces without walls. In this way, we have transformed it into a timeless home, meeting the expectations of the owners.”
A lack of walls and doors has certainly worked in the home’s favour. More space was created and a sense of flow was achieved, with seamless movement from one section of the house to another. A panel of cabinetry separates the built-in home office from the laundry and the kitchen, with an open passage linking the three spaces. Not only do these cabinets provide a physical barrier between the “rooms”, but they also provide storage.
Journeying through this home is akin to travelling down a rabbit hole, with a series of spaces extending from the main branch. There’s a sense of wonderment to be found here — the sort of playfulness that Alice no doubt encountered upon her first journey to Wonderland.
If the home is a rabbit warren, the kitchen is the nucleus, designed in black to underscore the room’s importance as a root for communication and intimacy. From here, the other spaces fan out in symmetrical degrees.
Throughout the entire home, light is a consistent theme. Windows are strategically placed to invite sustainable illumination. “The spot where the kitchen was located was initially a very dark transit area,” Susanna says. “The owners opted to create skylights above the kitchen, thus creating extra light and turning it into the centre of the house since from it you can see all.”
This sense of lightness is echoed throughout the dwelling, generating a sense of serenity.
Not only are the windows plentiful, but in many cases they span almost an entire wall, maximising the opportunity for natural light throughout the seasons.
One special feature of the renovation is without doubt the master suite, with its spectacular view of the garden. It’s located on the upper floor and again defies convention by eliminating the traditional bedroom door. Instead, a large timber panel serves as a silencer for the suite and provides privacy for those using the ensuite.
Back on the ground floor, the features continue. “On the main floor and connected to the garden and the pool are two living rooms — one with a fireplace and reading corner, the other to watch television,” Susanna says. A favourite location in this section of the home is the sofa under the stairs, a design feature that is hidden in plain sight.
This home is able to grow with its inhabitants, changing as they change over time. At the time of the renovation, the building was home to a professional couple and their two children, aged seven and nine. Their room has one of only three semi-permanent doors in the house, allowing them the opportunity for privacy as they age.
Consideration to sustainability was also given. “The facade has been worked with sustainable materials at a thermal and finishing level,” Susanna says. “The landscaping has been integrated into the area, and the interior is designed only with natural materials: timber, stone, quartz and natural fabrics.”
This has resulted in a home that is not only cleverly designed, but aesthetically pleasing, too. HD susannacots.com
Words Lauren Clarke Photography Mauricio Fuertes
