PETS & HUMAN – Positive House by Studio Ruiz Velázquez: Harmonious Living for Humans and Pets in Madrid

Located in the heart of Madrid, PETS & HUMAN – Positive House by Studio Ruiz Velázquez redefines residential design by creating a home that fosters seamless coexistence between humans and their pets. Covering a compact 291 ft², this innovative project designed by Héctor Ruiz Velázquez was featured in Casa Decor 2023, highlighting its groundbreaking approach to functional, sustainable, and emotionally enriching living spaces.

Co-Creation of Spaces for Humans and Animals

The central concept of the Positive House is rooted in the natural connection between humans and animals. Unlike conventional residential designs, this home prioritizes shared movement, habits, and functional space for both species. Inspired by the natural habitats of humans and pets, the project emphasizes freedom, fluidity, and interactivity throughout the apartment.

“Animals and humans living in the same home share not only leadership but also priorities of movement and spatial functionality,” says the architect. This philosophy forms the leitmotif of the design, where every element supports harmonious coexistence.

Creative Spatial Design

Despite its modest size, the apartment feels expansive thanks to innovative verticality and multi-level structures. Unique interior elements, including two symbolic cylindrical forms resembling tree trunks, create an organic framework reminiscent of treetops. These sculptural installations, crafted with premium textile materials from Atenzza, rise elegantly and expand functional planes across three dimensions, offering playful, ethereal spaces for both humans and pets.

The design encourages dynamic movement and promotes interaction and communication, crucial for a positive living environment, particularly in dense urban settings. Each material and structure is chosen to support the comfort, safety, and engagement of all inhabitants.

Materiality and Sustainability

Sustainability is at the core of this project. The use of 100% natural materials, combined with Ecoplen textile technology, optimizes acoustic performance, air purification, thermal insulation, odor elimination, and bacteria resistance. Complementary materials, including ESSENCEA ceramic by Saloni and Ecoclay, enhance the apartment’s aesthetic and structural integrity, creating a soft, enveloping interior skin.

The architectural language of the Positive House emphasizes functional beauty, inspired by instinctive design choices observed in the animal kingdom. The result is a sustainable, reusable, and recyclable home where form and function coexist naturally, balancing human comfort with environmental responsibility.

A Home that Teaches

This residence exemplifies a new approach to urban living: small-scale yet immersive, functional, and emotionally resonant. Drawing inspiration from Juhani Pallasmaa’s concept of “architectural animals,” the project demonstrates how residential architecture can learn from nature, emphasizing purposeful design, interdependence, and harmony.

PETS & HUMAN – Positive House proves that even a compact urban apartment in Madrid can deliver wellness, sustainability, and multi-species living, redefining the possibilities of residential interiors.

All photographs are works of Nacho Uribe Salazar