casa violetas balances enclosure and openness through courtyard living in madrid

"Casa Violetas by Werk Estudio is a detached single-family in conceived as a continuous architectural form that folds around a semi-enclosed . The project is organised through a single linear gesture that gradually develops without fully closing, creating a sequence of spaces that alternate between openness and intimacy. At the center of the house, the courtyard becomes the core of domestic life, bringing natural light, vegetation, and ventilation into all the rooms while reinforcing privacy."

"The living area establishes a direct relationship between the courtyard and the garden, connecting a more protected outdoor environment with a larger social area designed for leisure and gathering. This spatial duality is also reflected in the architectural expression of the house. Towards the exterior, the building appears more solid and enclosed, defined by thick walls and limited openings."

"In contrast, the inner facade facing the patio becomes lighter and more permeable, allowing light and warmer materials to shape the atmosphere of the interiors. The project integrates bioclimatic principles to optimise thermal comfort and reduce energy demand. Cross ventilation, solar control systems, and natural daylight play an important role in the environmental performance of the house."

"Passive strategies associated with the Passivhaus standard are combined with aerothermal energy, underfloor heating and cooling systems, and photovoltaic panels. Through its spatial organization and relationship with light and climate, Casa Violetas by architectural studio Werk proposes a domestic environment centred on privacy, comfort, and everyday living."

Casa Violetas is a detached single-family home conceived as a continuous architectural form that folds around a semi-enclosed central courtyard. A single linear gesture organizes the plan, developing gradually without fully closing and creating a sequence of spaces that alternate between openness and intimacy. The courtyard functions as the core of domestic life, bringing natural light, vegetation, and ventilation into all rooms while reinforcing privacy. The living area connects the courtyard to the garden, linking a protected outdoor environment with a larger social space for leisure and gathering. Externally, thick white walls and limited openings create a solid, enclosed facade, while the inner facade facing the patio becomes lighter and more permeable. Bioclimatic strategies include cross ventilation, solar control, and natural daylight, combined with Passivhaus-related passive measures, aerothermal energy, underfloor heating and cooling, and photovoltaic panels.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine