LA House by Alventosa Morell Arquitectes: Sustainable Single-Family Living in Llinars del Vallès

Nestled in the scenic town of Llinars del Vallès, Spain, LA House by Alventosa Morell Arquitectes is a masterful example of sustainable residential architecture. Completed in 2022, this 180 m² single-family home seamlessly balances privacy, comfort, and energy efficiency through a thoughtful bioclimatic design approach.

Strategic Design for Privacy and Comfort

The site offered excellent orientation but limited privacy, inspiring a design strategy focused on shelter and intimacy. The house is organized around a central fireplace and four distinct brick volumes. These compact ceramic boxes, positioned at the ends of the house, accommodate the bedrooms and bathrooms, creating a private, tranquil environment for the residents.

In contrast, the daytime living areas are open and fluid, extending beyond the perimeter volumes. Large windows and sliding openings create a seamless connection between interior spaces and the garden. The continuity of the interior flooring to the exterior wooden deck emphasizes openness while maintaining privacy from outside views, allowing natural light to permeate the home.

Materiality and Structural Elegance

The use of solid manual ceramic bricks defines both the structural and aesthetic character of the home. The same brick is used for the interior floors, creating a modular rhythm throughout the common spaces. These ceramic walls are the primary vertical load-bearing elements supporting the roofs. Within the private boxes, the roof is constructed with metal joists and ceramic vaults, while the day areas and porches feature light pine wood trusses, enhancing warmth and texture.

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

LA House prioritizes energy efficiency through multiple strategies. Controlled daylight intake, thermal inertia of walls and ceramic flooring, cross ventilation, and a high-performance thermal envelope reduce the home’s energy demand to 16 kWh/m²/year. The house requires no cooling in the summer and is gently heated in colder months by the central fireplace and four aerothermal-connected spot radiators.

Sustainability is embedded in the material choices. The architects used certified wood for roofs and window frames, cellulose insulation in walls and ceilings, and biomass-based ceramics, significantly reducing the ecological footprint of the home.

A Harmonious Balance of Form and Function

With a clear focus on privacy, thermal comfort, and sustainable materials, LA House exemplifies a modern, responsible approach to single-family residential design. The dialogue between solid brick volumes, open living spaces, and carefully considered materials creates a home that is both timeless and environmentally conscious.

Project Details:

• Location: Llinars del Vallès, Spain
• Architects: Alventosa Morell Arquitectes
• Lead Architects: Josep Ma. Alventosa, Marc Alventosa, Xavier Morell
• Area: 180 m²
• Year: 2022
• Photography: Adrià Goula

All photographs are works of Adrià Goula