Alba & Oriol House by MH.AP Studio

A Coastal Home Balancing Tradition, Warmth, and Sustainability

Set in the sunny coastal town of Salou, Spain, Alba & Oriol House by MH.AP Studio represents a seamless dialogue between Mediterranean architectural heritage and contemporary living. Designed in close collaboration with the homeowners, the project translates personal aspirations into architectural form — combining comfort, natural light, and energy efficiency in a modern yet grounded home.

Alba, one of the clients, dreamed of a sloping roof with exposed wooden beams, evoking warmth and rustic elegance. Oriol, meanwhile, envisioned a home deeply connected to nature but with a strong sense of privacy. These dual desires became the foundation for a design that explores balance, proportion, and texture, drawing inspiration from local poultry ranches, regional vernacular forms, and the open verandas of Colombian haciendas.

Spatial Composition and Living Experience

The house unfolds as a play of volumes and rooflines, defined by its distinctive split-roof silhouette. This gesture not only references traditional agrarian architecture but also enhances spatial quality, bringing abundant daylight and cross ventilation into the interior.

On the ground floor, the architects organized all primary living spaces for accessibility and family interaction. The plan includes three bedrooms, a spacious open-plan living room, and a kitchen that opens directly to the garden. Above, a flexible studio space functions as an artist’s retreat or an optional third bedroom and bathroom, ensuring adaptability for future needs.

Each room maintains a direct or filtered visual connection to the outdoors, emphasizing the relationship between interior comfort and exterior landscape — a recurring theme in MH.AP Studio’s work.

Material Authenticity and Construction Logic

Rooted in Mediterranean construction principles, the design prioritizes thermal mass, natural ventilation, and material honesty. The walls are built using 40-centimeter-thick cellular concrete, offering excellent thermal inertia and insulation. Complementing this, the double-layered roof integrates 20 centimeters of cork insulation beneath ventilated clay tiles, ensuring the home remains cool in summer and retains warmth in winter.

A strategically oriented veranda extends from the living area, forming a shaded threshold between the house, pool, and garden. This element, inspired by South American colonial architecture, reinforces the dialogue between shelter and openness, blurring the boundary between inside and out.

The material palette — natural wood, textured concrete, terracotta tiles, and warm-toned finishes — contributes to a calm, tactile atmosphere, emphasizing the beauty of craftsmanship and sustainability.

Sustainability Through Design

Rather than relying on high-tech systems, the house embodies passive design strategies to achieve comfort and reduce energy use. Its compact footprint, thick masonry walls, and ventilated roof work together to regulate interior temperatures year-round.

Large windows by Technal maximize daylight, while cross-ventilation channels coastal breezes through the home. Locally sourced materials from Porcelanosa Grupo, Levantina, and ROSAGRES ensure longevity and minimize the project’s carbon footprint.

A Contemporary Mediterranean Haven

The Alba & Oriol House is more than a family residence — it’s a manifestation of shared values between architect and client. It bridges tradition and innovation, privacy and openness, and aesthetic delight with environmental consciousness.

All photographs are works of Simone Marcolin