Slope House Architecture: Magarola House by Raúl Sanchez Architects in Sant Cugat del Vallès

A Home That Grows From the Land

The Magarola House by Raúl Sanchez Architects is an architectural masterpiece that redefines slope house architecture through an elegant, environmentally sensitive response to a dramatic 100% gradient site in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain. With its 175-square-meter footprint, the house gracefully ascends from the landscape without altering the natural slate terrain, offering a compelling case study in minimal environmental impact and maximal design expression.

Integrating Architecture into a Steep Terrain

Set into a precipitous hillside, the Magarola House demonstrates how architecture can respect and amplify the natural landscape. Avoiding deep excavation, the structure rests delicately on concrete screens that elevate the home while preserving the slate rock beneath. This unique structural solution leaves the terrain nearly untouched, forming a built layer that blends with the topography rather than dominating it.

A Suspended Approach to Living

Entry into the home begins on the uppermost level, where the building appears as a simple, hermetic volume. As one descends, it becomes evident that the home barely touches the rock at its rear, instead supported by concrete “legs” that stretch to the slope’s core. A striking cantilevered staircase links the pedestrian access and parking area to the main living spaces below, creating a bold transition between levels and an iconic architectural gesture.

Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Living

At the heart of the main level lies a spacious kitchen-dining area, anchored by a monumental in-situ concrete and ceppo di gré stone island table. Four expansive sliding windows open this space to a generous terrace, encouraging a constant visual and spatial dialogue with the valley and trees beyond. This level is designed as a continuous loop for both living and contemplation, with panoramic views integrated into every function.

A Spatial Flow Anchored by Geometry

The plan and elevation of the house follow the golden ratio, imparting a quiet sophistication to the architecture. The structure lacks a traditional front door, instead welcoming guests beneath a cantilevered slab that invites gathering and shared experience. A central block houses the vertical circulation, bathroom, and pantry, leaving the perimeter fluid for living, cooking, and viewing the horizon. The staircase pierces the structure vertically, culminating in a square turret rotated 45 degrees, ensuring uninterrupted access to rooftop panoramas.

Private Spaces Framed by the Landscape

The upper floor organizes three bedrooms and a bathroom around a central space flanked by two small balconies. The master suite features a walk-in closet and an ensuite bathroom with a window perfectly placed to offer landscape views while maintaining privacy. Sliding doors allow for adaptable spatial configurations, echoing the home’s overall ethos of fluidity and openness.

Crafting a Façade for Each Context

The house's four façades respond uniquely to their respective orientations. While the entrance and neighboring sides feature limited, strategically placed openings covered with lattice screens for privacy and solar control, the valley-facing façade is completely transparent. This contrast enhances the spatial drama and emphasizes the home's relationship with the landscape. The valley side is also finished in a subtle yellowish tone, distinguishing it from the earth-toned walls elsewhere and aligning it visually with the surrounding soil.

Minimalism Meets Structural Innovation

The Magarola House relies on a minimal structural system of concrete screens and 20 cm thick reinforced concrete slabs. Inside, no structural elements interrupt the open-plan interior. The only visual support elements are the slender concrete screens visible from outside, emphasizing the home’s light touch on the land.

Sustainability at the Core

Sustainability is embedded throughout the design. The home uses radiant floor heating powered by an aerothermal system and rooftop photovoltaic panels. Additional strategies include high-performance insulation, natural cross ventilation, rainwater collection, and carefully oriented openings to reduce solar gain. Remarkably, only two trees were removed from the site—out of more than forty—preserving the wooded character of the slope.

Honoring Craft and Place

The first step of the staircase is a local stone slab, referencing Carlo Scarpa’s philosophy of designing stairs as poetic transitions. This detail encapsulates the house’s essence: a sensitive, well-crafted home that celebrates its surroundings while subtly asserting its architectural presence.

All photographs are works of José Hevia