Ripolltizon

Ferriol House

Ferriol House
© Jaime Sicilia

FERRIOL HOUSE

Ripolltizon

COLLABORATOR
Xisco Sevilla

QUANTITY SURVEYOR
Rafael Jaume

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Jorge Martín

PHOTOGRAPHS
Jaime Sicilia

BUDGET
177,101 EUR

AREA
300.0 sqm

YEAR
2008

LOCATION
Maria De La Salud, Spain

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

The family home in in Maria de la Salut, Mallorca, Spain, is located in the transition area between the urban fabric and the countryside, added onto the end of a row of traditional houses.

The long plot, between parallel neighbor side walls, is oriented on a North-South axis facing two streets with a 2m level difference.

Ferriol House
© Jaime Sicilia
Ferriol House
© Jaime Sicilia

The urban growth in this area preserves the usual structure of the town centre, it means, compact blocks with buildings aligned to the street creating an inner courtyard in the block.

Houses create characteristic streetscape of small street-facing windows and painted wooden blinds.

We decided to build the house as a compact volume facing the street on the north side. That made possible to preserve the existing trees and use a big part of the plot as a South-oriented garden.

We took also into detailed consideration the relation of the project with the urban fabric, the neighbor volumes and the way they relate to the street.

Ferriol House
© Jaime Sicilia
Ferriol House
© Jaime Sicilia
Ferriol House
© Jaime Sicilia

The house matches the height of its neighbor on one side and raises an extra half-storey on the other, where it borders an empty plot at a higher level.

The characteristic streetscape of the area is put in value using a careful layout of small window openings in combination with exterior sliding wooden blinds. This combination creates a dynamic facade while transforming the size and texture of the window openings.

To compensate for the small windows, the use of big façade openings and a fragmented volume towards the inner courtyard reflects the search of light and fresh air.

Ferriol House
© Jaime Sicilia
Ferriol House
© Jaime Sicilia
Ferriol House
© Jaime Sicilia

A large skylight lets natural light down onto the upper storey, while a void in the first floor lets it through to the ground floor.

Split levels divide the main rooms on both floors creating a fluid interior space that also corresponds with the site that slopes upwards towards a second street at the back.

Steel beams and ceramic sheathing are left exposed on the ceilings, while glass screens provide banisters for staircases and balconies.

Ferriol House
© Jaime Sicilia
Ferriol House
© Jaime Sicilia
Ferriol House
© Jaime Sicilia

The project was selected in the “Context” Section of Catalunya-Illes Balears Pavilion in the 2012 Venize Biennale.


Ferriol House
Courtesy of RIPOLLTIZON
Ferriol House
Courtesy of RIPOLLTIZON

Ripolltizon
T +34 971 725699
Ripolltizon
Carrer dels Àngels, 1, Centre, 07003 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain