House LD by SEA Arquitectos

A Minimal Concrete Residence Framing Views of Galicia’s Coast

Located in Ferrol, Spain, House LD by SEA Arquitectos is a contemporary single-story residence designed to embrace panoramic northern views of A Coruña while creating a sheltered, sunlit living environment. With a total built area of 345 square meters, the 2023 project reinterprets the balance between exposure and protection, light and shadow, through a bold L-shaped concrete form that harmonizes with the steep topography of its site.

Context and Concept

The design responds directly to the plot’s challenging slope and strong northeast winds. To counter this, SEA Arquitectos devised a strategic wind-protected courtyard that opens toward the south. This orientation not only shields the residence from prevailing gusts but also creates a comfortable microclimate ideal for outdoor living.

The project’s main axis prioritizes north-south spatial continuity, ensuring that interior spaces benefit from both southern sunlight and northern views. This dual orientation enhances natural illumination throughout the day while maintaining a constant visual connection with the Galician landscape.

Layout and Spatial Organization

The house unfolds entirely on a single ground floor, divided into distinct day and night zones for clarity and comfort. The living, dining, and kitchen areas form a fluid open-plan sequence that extends toward a south-facing porch and pool, merging indoor and outdoor living. Expansive glazing and minimalist details reinforce the sense of openness, while the use of exposed concrete adds a sense of permanence and material honesty.

In contrast, the private wing—containing the bedrooms—is oriented eastward to capture the morning light, ensuring a calm and luminous start to the day. The result is a home that evolves with the sun: bright and energetic in the morning, warm and contemplative at dusk.

Materiality and Atmosphere

Concrete serves as both the structural and aesthetic backbone of the project. Its robust presence anchors the home into the terrain while reflecting the restrained material palette characteristic of SEA Arquitectos’ practice. The interior finishes maintain this minimal ethos, combining natural textures, clean lines, and subtle light gradients to highlight the architectural geometry.

Climate, Comfort, and Views

By elevating the structure above the natural slope, the architects optimized views, ventilation, and solar exposure. The orientation allows the main living spaces to open fully toward the landscape, blurring boundaries between architecture and nature. The south-facing terrace and pool form a transitional zone that captures the warmth of the sun while offering visual continuity with the rolling hills of northern Spain.

House LD exemplifies SEA Arquitectos’ commitment to contextual modernism—a design language that respects the site’s environmental conditions while delivering refined spatial experiences. Through simplicity of form, precision in orientation, and material coherence, the project becomes a serene retreat shaped by light, landscape, and climate.

All photographs are works of Héctor Santos Díez