Hara House

Hara House | Spain | 2023
[VERNE Arquitectura]

The Hara House is located in a compound near the coast of Vizcaya, just a few kilometers from Bilbao. The specific plot where the house is situated has a steep slope and an almost perfect north-south orientation. Therefore, the project’s strategy arises from providing a unified response to both initial conditions.

As a result, two concrete planes with powerful cantilevers at their ends are defined, staggered between them, allowing the spaces to adapt to the slope of the terrain. The first plane houses the entrance, foyer, garage, gym, and other secondary rooms; while the second plane, which forms the roof of the building, houses the living spaces: bedrooms, kitchen, and living-dining area.

On the north face, these concrete planes break at their ends to form two parapets. This makes the north facade of the house stronger and more defensive, facing towards the entrance and the public street. These concrete parapets prevent the windows in the living area from being visible from the outside and, on the first floor, create a spacious continuous terrace.

In contrast, the south facade is much more private and intimate. Therefore, the architectural configuration becomes lighter: the concrete roof plane extends into a large cantilever towards the garden, keeping its edge as minimal as possible. Additionally, the south facade features larger windows and openings. Overall, the design at this point aims to blend the entire house with the garden and outdoor pool, thanks to the large windows and the porch created by the aforementioned cantilever.

There is also a desire to internally connect both facades through the arrangement of the main spaces. The kitchen and the dining-living area are located on the north-south axis and in the center of the house. The kitchen, which opens to the north terrace, has a large wooden sliding door that allows direct connection to the living space. This way, the north terrace and south porch are visually and spatially connected. The master bedroom, situated on the east side, is also pass-through: the bedroom faces south and the dressing room faces north, with the bathroom in the center. In contrast, the west wing is dedicated to three secondary bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.

The materials used in the project aim to create a harmonious dialogue with each other and blend with the lush vegetation surrounding the plot. The strong presence of concrete is contrasted, in part, with its texture: the front and underside of the cantilevers are finished with a wooden texture. This also relates the concrete to the wooden cladding on certain parts of the facade, such as the garage door and the entrance on the north facade, as well as the entire front of the south facade, which is finished with chestnut wood slats. The rest of the façade -including the sides and the north front which is not visible from the outside- is finished with white lime mortar in order to remain in the background.

Inside, the natural character of the project’s materials is achieved through several elements: all vertical surfaces are finished with light beige clay plaster, while the floor and several sliding doors are made of oak wood. The finishing touch in this material palette is provided by the central piece that houses the fireplace and separates the living area from the bedroom hallway: all its surfaces are covered in grayish limestone.

The furniture naturally complements the architectural space, with the use of noble wood for dining chairs and table; light colors and cream tones for sofas, rugs, and armchairs; and a stone-like appearance for the kitchen island, conceived as a solid block without joints or divisions. The pendant lamps and fixtures, always slim and elegant due to their metallic structure, are chosen in dark tones to stand out as decorative elements floating in space.

In conclusion, this project finds its leitmotif in the surrounding environment: the orientation, the slope of the plot, and the views. Through a strong structure of reinforced concrete, with large cantilevers in both directions, the project and the configuration of spaces unfold clearly and logically. Towards the south, the house projects itself through large windows and a spacious porch to merge with the private garden. However, towards the north and the public surroundings, the house presents a more robust and defensive facade. Text description by the architects.