Can Cortés is a house located at the foot of the Collserola Natural Park.

The plot has a steep slope topography, with abundant vegetation, and the climatic conditions are typical of the Mediterranean climate, although sometimes they become extreme with strong north winds.

The tension between the optimal orientation, the wonderful panoramic views, and the strict regulations hinder the design exercise, to provide the house with attributes of versatility, permeability, and scalability, allowing us to achieve an “open” house, which adapts to the evolution of the life of its occupants.

All these were the starting conditions, and the “GROUND EMPTRACTMENT” and the “VOLUMETRIC DIVISION” were the two starting strategies for its implementation.

This combination of strategies allowed us to reduce the apparent volume of the intervention and improve its integration into the landscape, as well as to generate different spaces – open and semi-open – to achieve versatility, lighting and ventilation.

The two upper levels of the house are open to the landscape; however, at their intersection with the rock, intimate courtyards are generated that allow cross ventilation and provide nuances of natural lighting.

On the lower level, with an exit at the foot of the lot, more direct relations with the exterior are established.

The entire house opens to the south and southeast, and therefore is able to receive adequate sunlight during the colder months. Small overhangs on the south side protect it from the hot months.

Dark facades blend in with the Collserola forest, while light interiors bring light into the living spaces.

Despite the steep slopes of the site and the rigid regulations, we have managed to provide Can Cortes with some attributes that were essential for its inhabitants: versatility, permeability, adaptability, scalability and sustainability.

Can Cortes is VERSATILE, because many of its rooms can be used for different functions with very few movements,

It is SCALABLE because it can grow according to the needs of its owners without major works or high costs.

It is PERMEABLE because its facades can appear or disappear, merging the interior with the landscape or isolating itself from it.

And it is SUSTAINABLE because its bioclimatic design takes advantage of all inexhaustible resources, while most of the materials chosen will fulfill the cycle of returning to the earth without adding waste to the environment.