Primitive House by HANGHAR: A Raw and Minimalist Reflection on Rural Living

Located on the fringes of a small family winery in rural Guadalajara, Primitive House—designed by the Madrid-based architecture studio HANGHAR—challenges conventional ideas of minimal housing. This contemporary dwelling reimagines what it means to live simply, not by reducing space but by using only the essential resources to build a sustainable, efficient, and purpose-driven home.

Commissioned by artists Claudio and Bosco Sodi, the project serves as both a critique of urban instability and a conceptual exploration of post-urban life. In contrast to romanticized rural aesthetics, Primitive House embraces a pragmatic and architectural response to a growing desire for reconnection with nature, distancing itself from nostalgic or decorative interpretations of countryside living.

Architecture Rooted in Context

Typologically, the house sits at the intersection of rural, industrial, and agricultural vernaculars. From afar, the silhouette—complete with a traditional gable roof—evokes the familiar image of a countryside barn or warehouse. But its materiality and spatial character tell a more nuanced story. The exterior is rendered in projected waterproof mortar, a utilitarian and locally common insulation technique. This gives the home a monolithic, abstracted appearance that both camouflages it within the winery grounds and subtly distinguishes it as a domestic space.

A Studio Within a Home

The interior design draws inspiration from the raw, utilitarian nature of artist studios. Exposed metal trusses, concrete flooring, and an open spatial plan reflect a stripped-back aesthetic, blurring the line between living space and creative workshop. The program is laid out in a linear sequence, moving from public to private:

• Front porch
• Kitchen and dining area
• Living space
• Bedrooms and bathrooms

Five large steel trusses span across the structure, supported by robust load-bearing walls, shaping a spatial rhythm that organizes function and movement.

Dialogues with the Landscape

A critical element of the home’s design is its relationship to the surrounding vineyard. The open-plan communal area features large pivoting glass doors that frame views of the natural landscape, creating an immersive visual connection with the outdoors. In contrast, the private quarters are more introspective, featuring smaller, deeper-set windows to enhance privacy and create a more contemplative atmosphere.

Simplicity as Sustainability

Primitive House exemplifies how simplicity in design can be both sustainable and powerful. With a low-tech construction strategy, minimal materials, and an efficient layout, HANGHAR demonstrates that meaningful architecture doesn’t require complexity—it requires clarity of intent.

This project encourages a rethinking of contemporary domestic life in the context of environmental, cultural, and urban transformations. It is a resilient, resource-conscious prototype that blends artistry, architectural rigor, and a renewed sense of place.

All the photographs are works of Luis Díaz Díaz