- Project: El Bosque House
- Architect: Ramon Esteve Studio
- Location: Spain, 46370 Chiva, Valencia
- Year: 2010
- Area: 608 m2
- Photography: Mariela Apollonio
A Contemporary Forest House
Designed by Ramón Esteve, the El Bosque House—literally “The Forest House”—is a two-story residence located in Chiva, on the outskirts of Valencia. Although situated in a suburban residential area, the home cultivates a deep connection with its natural setting, framed by surrounding pine trees.
Four Stone Walls and Wooden Connections
The home is organized around four stone walls, which define its structure and ground it in the landscape. From these walls, prismatic volumes emerge to house different rooms. The interstitial spaces between these volumes are covered by timber roofs, which act as connectors and create sheltered halls that blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.
Hierarchy of Privacy
The design establishes varying degrees of privacy by linking indoor and outdoor areas according to function. Each volume is scaled to its use: social areas stretch wide and open, while bedrooms are more contained. This arrangement generates a cross-shaped plan that articulates the external spaces, creating courtyards, verandas, and terraces of differing intimacy.
A Spatial Journey
Visitors are guided through massive stone walls that protect the entrance. As one moves deeper into the house, the architecture gradually becomes more permeable, revealing glimpses of the garden and pool. A timber roof defines the entrance hall with a human scale, while a longitudinal skylight introduces raking light, enriching the interior atmosphere.
Central Concept and Transparency
The social volumes—living room, dining room, and kitchen—are independent yet visually connected, enhancing the perception of spaciousness and transparency. Private zones include the main suite, additional bedrooms, and a studio, all extended by continuous verandas that merge interior comfort with exterior openness.
Materiality and Atmosphere
El Bosque House employs a palette of masonry stone walls, afrormosia timber framing, weathering steel lattices, and expansive glazing. These materials combine to create a warm, protective, and timeless atmosphere. The steel lattices act as shutters, controlling light and privacy, while a reflective pond at the garden’s edge mirrors both architecture and vegetation, deepening the sense of harmony with nature.
Furniture and Interior Design
The interior design follows principles of simplicity, noble materials, and chromatic harmony. Custom furniture, such as the dining tables and barbecue table, was designed specifically for the house, their structure echoing the architectural concept. Visual continuity with the landscape ensures that every interior space feels part of its environment.
