FRAME HOUSE || Unobstructed Views of the Mediterranean Sea in Minorca, Spain
The Frame House captures the most picturesque scenery overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on Spain’s Minorca Island.
Minorca, known for its endless beaches intermittently spotted with beautiful turquoise-watered bays called “calas”, is also home to the Frame House, a single-family home designed by NOMO STUDIO. Located on the northeast coast of Minorca, Spain, the home enjoys a magnificent view of the sea.
The steep inclination of the plot of land was a challenge for the team, a difficult decision on how to position the home to take advantage of the stunning sea views while avoiding the home located in front. limited. The solution was to push back the house to the highest point of the plot and have the main entrance located on the upper floor. To further guarantee a clear view, the traditional program was flipped so that the living / day area is located on the upper floor and the bedrooms on the lower floor.
Steps leading to the main entrance on the upper / ground floor.
Only the master bedroom can be found on the top floor, responding to the client’s request to have a summer house easy to open and close for short weekend stays. The house is conceptualized as a single level loft with an extension for their children and guests below on the ground level.
The inclined roof draws your eyes up towards the vast stretch of blue sky.
The strong contrast between the openness of the sea-view facade and the opacity of the side and back facades create a strong framing effect. To further enhance this gesture the roof is inclined towards the view and the whole front facade is glazed from floor to ceiling with large sliding windows. Using prefabricated hollow core slab for the roof, usually found only in industrial buildings, allowed the team to create a 11m large span to cover a column-free terrace with completely undisturbed views. One whole prefabricated element was removed from the roof, creating a large frameless skylight that brings light to the windowless posterior of the house.
Large sliding windows in the kitchen and living room open up to a 43 sqm large covered terrace where gatherings often take place. The master bedroom has a private balcony with no visual connection to the common terrace. The client wanted a house that could give privacy for their children, thus the children’s’ bedrooms all have their individual private bathrooms and terraces plus an extra living room only for them. This creates an optimal mix of private and social spaces for the family and their guests.
A ‘frame’ of the stunning view of the Mediterranean Sea.
The inclined roof opens up towards the view.
In Situ concrete was chosen for the facade as a zero maintenance material that would age beautifully in Minorca’s aggressive climate of high humidity and extreme salt levels. The house’s off-white facade blends in with the ochre and terracotta coloured soil that surrounds the house. Finally, a band of vertical striped relief goes around the façade organizing all windows and doors.
Elevated positioning of house and the day area and master bedroom on the top floor takes advantage of the unobstructed views.
At night, the Frame House stands like a bright shining star against the dark landscape. With surroundings void of city lights, the skies are a deep blue with the stars twinkling above, the perfect setting for a getaway from the bustling activities in the city for a breather from everyday stressors.
Photos courtesy of www.nomostudio.eu/
Photos by Adrià Goula
PROJECT Single-family house
TYPE Commission
CLIENT Private
COLLABORATORS Structure e2A, Juan Mora SA and Gaimo, Francesc Sbert SIZE 300 m2
LOCATION: Minorca, Spain
Partner-in-Charge: Alicia Casals
Project Leader: Alicia Casals
Team: Karl Johan Nyqvist, Jordi Ribas, Mira Botsewa, Jennifer Mendez
Photography: Adrià Goula