House on a Brick Base by Ágora Arquitectura

Located in St. Vicenç dels Horts, just 20 kilometers from Barcelona, the House on a Brick Base by Ágora Arquitectura is a project that fuses tradition, sustainability, and contemporary living. Built on a 160 m² site, the house explores the dialogue between earth and sky through a careful play of levels, materials, and light.

Context and Concept

The plot presented two distinct layers: the upper level, where an old tool shed recalled the agricultural past of the region, and the lower level, which housed a small dilapidated structure. This condition inspired the architects to design a house that respects local traditions while offering a fresh, modern interpretation.

The brick base forms the foundation of the project, containing the clay soil of the terrain while extending architecture to the plot’s limits. This continuous band not only supports the structure above but also expands interior living space by reclaiming voids at the lower level. At its core, a T-shaped brick wall acts as a structural prop, grounding the house in both form and memory.

Materiality and Structure

On top of this brick foundation sits a prefabricated CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) box. Its exterior is clad with whitewashed cork panels, offering both thermal insulation and visual continuity with the surrounding vernacular architecture. Inside, the CLT remains exposed, except for functional elements such as a technical floor for installations and whitewashed plywood volumes that organize the domestic program.

The interplay between natural brick, cork, and wood creates a home that is both tactile and environmentally conscious, blending modern construction techniques with traditional materials.

Spatial Organization

The house is divided into two complementary atmospheres:

• Upper floor – Sky and light: Designed for winter living, this level houses two interconnected bedrooms, an open bathroom bathed in blue zenithal light, and a flexible living-kitchen area that flows into the dining space. Large balcony doors open to the landscape, while French balconies and roll-up shutters provide natural ventilation and passive climate control.
• Lower floor – Earth and shade: Oriented towards summer comfort, this floor wraps around the brick wall and includes a third bedroom, a secondary living room, a compact bathroom, and a generous service area. Here, the ceramic textures filter daylight, connecting interior life with the surrounding neighborhood while maintaining privacy.

Landscape and Experience

The house conceals much of its life behind a perforated brick wall, offering glimpses of movement while maintaining a sense of privacy. Entry is choreographed: visitors can ascend ceremonially via a hidden stair or approach through a ramp. Along the way, they encounter a century-old olive tree and a historic irrigation well, grounding the new home in the memory of the land.

Inside, a central skylight becomes the project’s guiding element, illuminating spaces even in their most intimate corners. As one moves upward through the spiral staircase, light and brick interact, filtering the white tones of neighboring houses and recalling the ceramic roofs of St. Vicenç.

The House on a Brick Base is a striking example of how contemporary architecture in Spain can embrace local traditions, sustainable materials, and layered histories while offering a new vision for residential living. By combining brick, cork, and timber, Ágora Arquitectura has created a home that is deeply rooted in its landscape yet open to the future.

All Photographs are works of Jose Hevia