Spanish architecture firm Raúl Sánchez Architects has completed an impressive concrete residence called House in Cala Tamarit in Tarragona, featuring a unique sunken courtyard that leads into a dramatic double-height living space. The project was designed specifically for two remote workers who sought a home that would provide a tangible, physical experience as a counterpoint to their digital work environment.
The orthogonal, exposed concrete dwelling represents what founder Raúl Sánchez describes as a "play of contrasts." According to Sánchez, the clients' desire for materiality drove the design philosophy: "Precisely because their work is so immaterial, they wanted their future house to be the opposite: material over immaterial, volume and mass over lightness, experience over immediacy."
The house is organized into two staggered concrete blocks that create external balconies and verandas, topped by a roof terrace. The architects took advantage of the sloping site to craft a carefully choreographed entry sequence that begins with concrete stairs descending into the sunken garden courtyard. This intimate space, characterized by tinted walls and open sky above, creates a moment of pause and reflection before entering the main living areas.
"The ceremony of descending the steps and losing the view of the environment leads into a very intimate and silent space," Sánchez explained. "Then you enter the house and go through some non-aligned spaces, and get into the double-height living room with such a contrast of openness and height." This approach reflects a constant in Sánchez's work, where houses reveal their complexity gradually as visitors move through the spaces, offering much more than initially apparent.
The material palette reinforces the concept of contrasts throughout the design. Externally, the building is finished in concrete made with a warm yellow pigment, which was required to comply with local building regulations. Timber ribs provide shading and privacy for the windows while adding textural interest to the facade. Inside, exposed concrete walls alternate with white-painted surfaces that were deliberately left blank to showcase the clients' art collection, creating flexible and flowing interior spaces.
On the opposite side of the home, the living space and kitchen open onto a series of stepped terraces that cascade down the sloping site. These outdoor spaces include a seating area above and a swimming pool below, with the garden eventually dropping into a tree-filled ravine. A skylit metal staircase wraps around the living room and provides access to the first-floor bedrooms, which feature a warmer atmosphere created by built-in timber storage units and tiled bathrooms.
This project continues Sánchez's exploration of blocky architectural forms and the concept of "discovery" in residential design. A previous home by Raúl Sánchez Architects near Barcelona similarly presents a blank facade to the street while revealing itself through a descent onto a cantilevering terrace. The House in Cala Tamarit represents another successful example of how contemporary Spanish architecture is embracing bold material choices and dramatic spatial sequences to create memorable residential experiences.
