Oktade House: A Horizontal Mediterranean Refuge of Light and Shadow by Garrido Studio

Oktade House is a contemporary single-family residence designed by Garrido Studio on a flat, quiet plot in Godella, just outside Valencia. Defined by a strong sense of horizontality, the house adopts a language of pure geometries, overlapping planes, and generous cantilevers, resulting in an architecture that is both monumental and calm. Deeply attuned to the Mediterranean climate, the project balances mass and lightness, presence and serenity.

The composition is articulated through bold concrete volumes that advance and recede, generating shifting shadows throughout the day. This play of depth and projection gives the house a powerful yet measured identity, allowing it to sit naturally within its suburban landscape. Rather than imposing itself, the architecture establishes a grounded dialogue with its surroundings through proportion, materiality, and light.

Spatial organization follows a clear logic of openness and retreat. The main living areas—including the living room, dining room, kitchen, and garden—are strategically oriented to maximize daylight and visual continuity with the outdoors. Large windows dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, allowing Mediterranean light to flood the spaces and encouraging natural ventilation. These communal areas extend seamlessly toward the garden, reinforcing an easy, fluid way of living.

In contrast, the four bedroom suites are located in a more secluded zone of the house, ensuring privacy and tranquility. This separation allows daily life to unfold without interference, balancing social activity with moments of rest and intimacy. Throughout the residence, the consistent presence of large openings ensures that every space maintains a direct relationship with the garden and landscape.

The entrance sequence establishes the architectural tone from the outset. A generous foyer is organized around a sculptural staircase that introduces verticality within the otherwise horizontal composition. Above it, two skylights filter soft, diffuse daylight into the interior, revealing the depth and thickness of the exterior cantilever from within. A framed opening at the end of the vestibule draws the eye directly toward the garden, reinforcing the house’s central theme of continuity between inside and outside.

Materiality plays a key role in shaping the atmosphere. The exterior façade features an earthy, textured finish that emphasizes the tactile quality of the concrete and enhances the sculptural character of each cantilever. Inside, light woods, continuous surfaces, and soft, neutral tones create warm and tranquil interiors that counterbalance the robustness of the exterior form.

Outdoor living is an integral part of the project. The rooftops host 70 square meters of terraces, offering intimate spaces to enjoy the climate and views. At ground level, the garden—organized around a large swimming pool—functions as the social heart of the home. With direct access from the kitchen and living room, this outdoor space supports daily life, gatherings, and informal moments in constant connection with nature.

Oktade House is ultimately conceived as a contemporary Mediterranean refuge. Through its bold geometry, careful orientation, and nuanced use of light and shadow, the house offers a sense of stability, calm, and balance. It is an architecture that does not seek spectacle, but rather embraces slowness, openness, and harmony with climate and landscape.

All the Photographs are works of Sonia Sabnani