A-cero Architects have designed this stunning reinforced concrete house design of La Finca 4 House located in Somosaguas, a suburb of Madrid. Thiese 1.200 m2 compact single-family house floor plan has the form of a greek cross, and is delimited by the access pathway and the other properties on both of its sides.

The la finca 4 house is guided by 2 main concepts: a great functionality in the distribution of the interior spaces and their openness to the exterior to make the most of the views. Both ideas are also present in the interior design and in the selection of the construction materials.

The design follows a functional structure evolving around the hall stairs, an central design element that provokes a surprising visual and spatial effect. Another breathtaking space is the double height volume that contains the living room.

The building is divided in three levels according to the program’s needs. The access is on the ground floor, where all the more public spaces are located: hall, living and dining rooms, office, TV room and kitchen. The living room occupies a double height space open to the exterior views through great glass panes. All the objects that could interfere with the contemplation of the views, like railings or walls, have been suppressed or replaced by transparent elements. The main entrance door is made of a 6 m high glass pane, letting the visitor perceive the interior of the house.

On a lower level are located the technical installation rooms, laundry, indoor swimming pool, games room, wine cellar, garage and a leisure area with a reading space, dining room and TV.

A staircase with glass railings and a glass corridor that goes through the double height space takes to a studio on the upper level overlooking the living room. Next to this area are the master bedroom, equipped with a walk-in closet and bathroom, and four more bedrooms with bathrooms, organized around a corridor covered with shelves.

The richness of this spatial composition is also apparent in the exterior, and organizes the connection between the house and its surroundings. This dynamical and rich design is also translated to a structural system made only of reinforced concrete walls, avoiding intermediate columns that could alter the space’s scale and cleanliness.

At some point, the structure pierces the façade to form a porch that finishes its composition, protects from the sunlight and creates an interesting play of light and shadow. The house is covered with white travertine, creating a clean and smooth finishing, the porch’s floor and the deck surrounding the pool and jacuzzi are made of ipê wood . The garden on the front of the house is organized in terraces and parterres, forming a decorative outline surrounded by a surface covered with white gravel. Three sculptures are carefully placed in this place, marking the entrance.

Designed by Morris Partnership Architecture, this residential architecture project of Hinterland House is located on a remote site and engages with the Australian landscape and redefines the boundary between interior and exterior.

Arriving at Hinterland House is a startling experience. The sandy track winds through the sloping site and stops at a gravel clearing. A powerful rammed earth wall, firmly anchored to the ground, enables other elements to float. The site seems to flow through the building and there is no obvious entry – the house is deliberately elusive; it challenges expectations.

The architecture allows views of the site to be enjoyed and confronted – the dam, modest scrub, bushfire-scarred eucalypts and abundant wildlife. The design is a fragmented building with living, working and sleeping zones separated by glazed slots, links and open spaces.

Once inside, the excitement of the building and the site is revealed. Personal privacy is created without the use of barriers. Movement between zones provides a continual disconnection that is reinforced by changes in materials. The house requires a journey with minimal definition between the interior and exterior.

This house is provocative in its rejection of any easy gratification of the aesthetic – it invites the occupants to think, observe and encounter the uniqueness of the Australian bush.