House EF by MDBA Architects – Harmonious Rural Living in Valderrobres, Spain

House EF, designed by MDBA Architects, is a serene single-family residence nestled in the picturesque countryside of Valderrobres, in the province of Teruel, Spain. Surrounded by lush olive groves and sprawling vineyards, the home draws inspiration directly from its natural context, blending effortlessly with the rural landscape while celebrating simplicity, horizontality, and calmness in its architectural expression.

Concept and Spatial Organization

The design of House EF revolves around a central axis, which serves as both a conceptual and functional backbone. This axis guides circulation and creates uninterrupted visual connections throughout the home, offering framed views of the surrounding olive trees and vineyards. The residence is composed of three distinct volumes:

• Private Wing (West): Housing the main bedrooms and personal spaces for privacy and comfort.
• Guest Wing (East): Designed for visitors, providing independence while maintaining connectivity.
• Central Shared Area: Includes the main entrance, living room, and kitchen, acting as the social heart of the house.

This careful spatial organization ensures flexible usage while maintaining intimacy, balance, and a clear relationship between private and communal areas.

Materials and Interior Atmosphere

House EF emphasizes the use of natural, locally sourced materials, including lime plaster, untreated wood, and stone, creating a tactile and authentic environment that anchors the home to its surroundings. Generously sized windows and strategically placed skylights invite natural light to permeate the interiors, strengthening the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

The combination of a reinforced concrete structure and lightweight interior partitions allows for long-term adaptability, while passive design strategies—such as cross ventilation, solar orientation, and thermal inertia—promote energy efficiency and sustainable living.

Integrating Landscape and Scale

One of the central challenges of the project was maintaining intimacy and human scale within the expansive rural landscape. By designing a low-profile house, framed by native vegetation and open to the sky, MDBA Architects created a home that acts as a tranquil extension of its environment. House EF embodies a harmonious interplay between landscape, light, and rhythm, offering a serene refuge for its inhabitants while responding sensitively to its surroundings.

All photographs are works of Simone Marcolin