Vivienda Begur - Torndelacreu

Begur House was born from its owners’ desire for a coastal retreat where they could relax and host family on the Costa Brava.

The Story behind this case

Unable to find a home that fit their vision, they decided to design their own—a brutalist sanctuary featuring exposed concrete that harmonizes with its natural surroundings. The house is centered around an interior patio that invites the landscape inside.

Designed by Garcés-de Seta-Bonet Architects, the project balances minimalistic interior architecture with a kaleidoscopic connection to nature. This interaction between privacy and openness allows occupants to experience the feeling of living in a garden.

The Story behind this case

Unable to find a home that fit their vision, they decided to design their own—a brutalist sanctuary featuring exposed concrete that harmonizes with its natural surroundings. The house is centered around an interior patio that invites the landscape inside.

Designed by Garcés-de Seta-Bonet Architects, the project balances minimalistic interior architecture with a kaleidoscopic connection to nature. This interaction between privacy and openness allows occupants to experience the feeling of living in a garden.

Transparency:

The perception of this house shifts upon entry; the walls of this exposed concrete monolith, with its solid and imposing appearance, seem to vanish, revealing an open and fluid circulation centered around the inner courtyard, inspired by what could be an ancient cloister. Here, transparency manifests through carefully considered architectural details.

Here, transparency manifests through carefully considered architectural details:

Transparency: The perception of this house shifts upon entry; the walls of this exposed concrete monolith, with its solid and imposing appearance, seem to vanish, revealing an open and fluid circulation centered around the inner courtyard, inspired by what could be an ancient cloister. Here, transparency manifests through carefully considered architectural details.

Here, transparency manifests through carefully considered architectural details:

Transparency and Light:

The space is designed with large windows that face the Mediterranean, while the interior rooms are oriented towards a beautifully landscaped patio. This thoughtful arrangement allows natural light to permeate the living areas, seamlessly integrating the outdoors with the indoor environment. The light at dawn and dusk changes the mood and colors of each space, while furniture and structural elements cast shifting shadows, bringing life to the interiors throughout the day.

Transparency and Light: The space is designed with large windows that face the Mediterranean, while the interior rooms are oriented towards a beautifully landscaped patio. This thoughtful arrangement allows natural light to permeate the living areas, seamlessly integrating the outdoors with the indoor environment. The light at dawn and dusk changes the mood and colors of each space, while furniture and structural elements cast shifting shadows, bringing life to the interiors throughout the day.

Transparency and Boundaries:

The separations between the spaces appear or fade as needed. The custom-made closures of the wardrobes and other storage areas complement these large walnut wood doors. The cabinetry work stands out, combining the walnut wood lattice with the addition of a filter to soften the interior light, enabling a large light fixture for each room. These elements allow subtle transitions between spaces and create a recurring feature throughout the home.

Transparency and Materiality:

The interior concept draws inspiration from natural elements, such as sand, light, wind, sun, and sea. This aesthetic approach, sophisticated and well-integrated, harmoniously interacts with the surroundings. The spaces facilitate an organic connection between indoor and outdoor environments by incorporating concrete, wood, metal, mirror, and glass materials, thereby establishing a deep-rooted relationship with the natural landscape.

Transparency and Boundaries: The separations between the spaces appear or fade as needed. The custom-made closures of the wardrobes and other storage areas complement these large walnut wood doors. The cabinetry work stands out, combining the walnut wood lattice with the addition of a filter to soften the interior light, enabling a large light fixture for each room. These elements allow subtle transitions between spaces and create a recurring feature throughout the home.

Transparency and Materiality: The interior concept draws inspiration from natural elements, such as sand, light, wind, sun, and sea. This aesthetic approach, sophisticated and well-integrated, harmoniously interacts with the surroundings. The spaces facilitate an organic connection between indoor and outdoor environments by incorporating concrete, wood, metal, mirror, and glass materials, thereby establishing a deep-rooted relationship with the natural landscape.

Harmonic contrast:

The concrete structure defines a boundary between the inside and outside, framing a small part of this idyllic setting. Beyond its imposing presence, the home incorporates other materials, such as walnut wood and ceramics by master craftsman Antoni Cumellas, which soften the visual impact and create a balanced contrast.

The resulting space exudes a warm, human dimension, ideal for showcasing carefully curated interior design pieces. Each piece of furniture and artwork adds distinctive character while establishing a harmonious (yet contrasting) dialogue aimed at complementing the view without detracting from the beauty of the horizon. The architecture, which stands out for its form, seamlessly integrates with the landscape and fulfills its functional needs, creating the spaces for living and enjoyment that the owners so desired.

Harmonic contrast: The concrete structure defines a boundary between the inside and outside, framing a small part of this idyllic setting. Beyond its imposing presence, the home incorporates other materials, such as walnut wood and ceramics by master craftsman Antoni Cumellas, which soften the visual impact and create a balanced contrast.

The resulting space exudes a warm, human dimension, ideal for showcasing carefully curated interior design pieces. Each piece of furniture and artwork adds distinctive character while establishing a harmonious (yet contrasting) dialogue aimed at complementing the view without detracting from the beauty of the horizon. The architecture, which stands out for its form, seamlessly integrates with the landscape and fulfills its functional needs, creating the spaces for living and enjoyment that the owners so desired.

Active Kaleidoscope:

The function of sharing with others defines the space and how to inhabit this home, with a fluid and simple pattern where the essentials remain unadorned.

The quadrangular prism generates a perimeter interrupted by a landscaped center, which forces the circulation paths to intersect and shift the focus of the gaze. From the entrance, the pool merges with the horizon, creating a continuous connection between inside and outside. The spaces are fluid and interchangeable, open to the landscape, always directing the gaze outward.

Active Kaleidoscope: The function of sharing with others defines the space and how to inhabit this home, with a fluid and simple pattern where the essentials remain unadorned.

The quadrangular prism generates a perimeter interrupted by a landscaped center, which forces the circulation paths to intersect and shift the focus of the gaze. From the entrance, the pool merges with the horizon, creating a continuous connection between inside and outside. The spaces are fluid and interchangeable, open to the landscape, always directing the gaze outward.

The main bedroom is framed between the double-height staircase and the solarium, acting as a viewpoint that connects the interior with the exterior landscape, generating constant dynamism and changing space.

This home stands as an active kaleidoscope, adapting to the moment and creating different scenarios. The constant shifts in light and reflections dissolve the boundaries of the building, allowing the rugged landscape of the Costa Brava and the Mediterranean Sea to emerge.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED

Together with the architectural team, we have learned to listen closely to the true needs of the property. This approach has enabled us to develop an organic and tailored proposal that aligns with our clients’ aspirations. We have had the privilege of participating in a distinctive project where the focus on sensations has been central to the creative process, strengthening a solid and close bond of trust with our clients.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED

Together with the architectural team, we have learned to listen closely to the true needs of the property. This approach has enabled us to develop an organic and tailored proposal that aligns with our clients’ aspirations. We have had the privilege of participating in a distinctive project where the focus on sensations has been central to the creative process, strengthening a solid and close bond of trust with our clients.

CLIENT

Private

CREATIVE DIRECTION

Garcés-De Seta-Bonet

ARQUITECTURE

Garcés-De Seta-Bonet

INTERIOR DESIGN

Garcés-De Seta-Bonet – Anna Torndelacreu – Crude

LIGTHNING DESIGN

La Invisible

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

JuanMa Roig