Ricart House by Gradoli & Sanz in Valencia, Spain.

Designed by Gradoli & Sanz Arquitectos, Casa Ricart was built on a plot of land located in the Historic Centre of Benimaclet neighbourhood. Benimaclet is a former farming village, an island in a sea of fields ploughed through ditches. Modern Benimaclet has been completely absorbed by the growth of Valencia city, however it has historically been proud of its own identity, with its own church, main square and a street layout more reminiscent of a small village than a city district.

With Casa Ricart, the architects worked with typologies of a traditional courtyard house. Although smaller in scale, the traditional features of a courtyard residence forms the backbone of the planning.

This house is shaped around two courtyards. The first, located in the transition between the living room and kitchen – dining area, is bathed in sunlight and contains an olive tree. The second, of a more private nature, is a protected courtyard with vegetation providing shade.

The use of bricks and pavers in varying proportions at the base of the void is particularly compelling. Coupled with other no-nonsense materials like concrete, timber and glass creates an easy and liveable house. What’s not to like?

[Photography © Mariela Apollonio.]