House X

The X House emerges from the tension between a stunning location and the desire to inhabit it. This tension is addressed with a firm determination to create a new structure that is part of the landscape. Drawing inspiration from the ancient fortresses of the Castilian plateau and the houses of Monsanto, Portugal, the house seeks to integrate as seamlessly as possible with its surroundings.

The rocky terrain on which the house is built is defined by a gentle slope and dominated by a centuries-old oak tree, surrounded by holm oaks and kermes oaks growing among massive granite boulders. In response to these natural elements, and drawing on lessons from Coderch’s Ugalde house, the design incorporates an X-shaped floor plan that nests within the rugged landscape, framing views of the surrounding nature from inside.

Constructed entirely from on-site concrete made with local aggregates, the house is designed for long-term durability, proposing its own lasting permanence as an alternative approach to sustainability, a complex term often treated lightly, leading to architectures that prioritize representing sustainability rather than genuinely promoting it. The 50 cm thick walls are built by hand in 60 cm high layers, incorporating insulation between the inner and outer concrete layers. The result is a wall of large, exposed stones that are visible both inside and outside. While the average lifespan of a house might be 50 years, the X House is built to endure for generations, deeply anchored in the landscape, much like the granite boulders and trees that surround it.