metallic house 144º rises on steel stilts above hillside near barcelona

House 144º by Pineda & Monedero and Jaime Prous Architects

Set on a steep forested hillside in the Maresme near Barcelona, House 144º explores how to build on a sloping site without reshaping the landscape. Designed by Pineda & Monedero and Jaime Prous Architects as a single-story, nearly zero-energy home for a retired couple, the project is positioned lightly above the terrain, preserving existing trees and topography. Rather than maximising footprint through excavation, the house adopts a minimal-impact strategy that allows the ground to remain largely untouched and used for parking.

The house is organised on a single level, placed midway along the slope and supported by a lightweight steel structure. Its plan follows a broken line forming a 144° angle, orienting the living space toward distant mountain views. One end of the house is anchored into the ground, while the other extends outward in a cantilever, supported by four galvanised steel columns reinforced with cross-bracing to maintain structural efficiency.

all images by Bani del Rio

The construction system, conceived by the collaborative team of Studio Pineda & Monedero and Jaime Prous Architects, is based on a dry assembly process, combining prefabricated timber elements with industrial materials. The primary structure consists of timber wall panels assembled on site, paired with a lightweight floor structure of solid timber beams. A galvanised steel corrugated envelope protects the timber frame, establishing a clear relationship between structure and enclosure.

Openings are cut into the steel facade as large frameless apertures, reducing the visual presence of the building within the landscape. This approach contrasts with the interior, where the exposed timber structure defines a series of simple, clearly organised spaces. The living area projects outward toward the view, extending the interior into the landscape, while at the opposite end, a workshop is located in the basement and lit from above.

Through its elevated structure, prefabricated timber system, and controlled use of industrial materials, the house proposes an approach to hillside construction that prioritises environmental continuity, structural clarity, and spatial orientation.

project info:

name: House 144º
architects: Pineda & Monedero | @pinedamonedero, Jaime Prous Architects | @jprousarchitects

structure: Otherstructures

location: Maresme, Spain

photographer: Bani del Rio | @delriobani

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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