Studio&Home SUMA / SUMA Arquitectura – Optimized Design in Compact Urban Contexts

Studio&Home SUMA is an innovative residential and studio project, part of the Our-Shelves-Houses promotion in Madrid. With a compact plot of just 115 m², the design showcases ingenuity and spatial optimization, creating a highly functional and visually engaging home despite strict urban constraints.

Design Concept

The project is organized into two volumes, attached to existing median walls and connected by a pergola, which embraces a central interior garden. This configuration not only enhances privacy but also protects the home from highway noise. Elevated ground-floor terraces (+1.50 m) provide scenic views while maintaining seclusion, and carefully designed gaps introduce natural light to semi-buried rooms.

Spatial Strategy

Sloping facades and roofs align with urban planning requirements while responding to the challenging interior program. Multi-level volumes maximize space through visual connections, light wells, and strategic gaps, creating a sense of openness and spatial continuity. The house features four floors and multiple intermediate levels, exceeding the neighboring three-story building, with stairs doubling as circulation and functional surfaces to minimize corridor use.

Materials & Construction

The structure combines a reinforced concrete foundation with above-ground laminated red spruce wood walls. Two median walls integrate insulation and service ducts, while 5-layer laminated wood stairs are suspended from upper-floor slabs, punctuated by discreet metal supports and glass enclosures. Exterior finishes blend cement panels and treated coniferous wood, resulting in a Nordic-inspired aesthetic that harmonizes pragmatism, warmth, and abundant natural light.

Architectural Influences

Studio&Home SUMA draws from Nordic minimalism, emphasizing natural wood, light-filled interiors, and functional living. Japanese architectural principles influence spatial chaining, visual connectivity, and fluid circulation, creating an intimate yet expansive domestic experience.