House in Sa Farola

Ciutadella, Menorca

Photo © Adrià Goula

Photo © MSA+A

Photo © Adrià Goula

Architects: MSA+A

Location: Ciutadella, Menorca
Year: 2008

The house is located along the seafront on the coastal road that leads to the lighthouse in the port of Ciutadella, Menorca. The views are open over the old city and towards the horizon. On a clear day one can see the outline of Mallorca.

The house has been designed over 2 floors and is arranged in a U-shape facing east. The central courtyard facilitates cross-ventilation and the formation of convection currents in the main spaces, ensuring adequate natural ventilation in the summer and winter. The pool in the courtyard also helps with climate control of the house as evaporation cools the incoming air while simultaneously increasing the relative humidity.

All the main rooms in the house have a sea view and the daylight levels in each room are adjustable with passive controls. The south facing front porch and the blinds on the balcony doors ensure daylight control in summer and winter.

The layout of the ground floor is completely open plan with impressive views across the central courtyard and towards the sea. Only the three bedrooms and bathrooms are completely private. On the first floor there is a master bedroom suite, which can be treated as an independent apartment. The garage and plant room are located in the basement.

The house has been designed as a series of simple volumes with flat roofs that can be used as additional space or made into a garden. The façades integrate ventilated façade technology and are finished with an outer sheet of white sandstone, made from local limestone. The doors, windows and external blinds are dark bronze anodised aluminium.

The surrounding area is landscaped with local plants and vegetation, and the whole site is enclosed by a traditional dry stonewall. The pedestrian and vehicle access doors are of pre-oxidised steel plates.