The central volume slightly raised above the ground

‘Cano House’, located in Alicante, Spain, is the latest work of Valencia-based architectural office Fran Silvestre Arquitectos. This house is an experiment that asks what clear and cohesive residential architecture is.

The house is divided into three areas. There is a night zone for sleeping, a day zone for daily life, and a sports zone. Two low volumes surround the high volume in the center from the left and right. This core contains the main living space and is slightly lifted off the ground, giving the impression of floating in the air. A deep border surrounds the outside of this volume, reinforcing its visual identity as a ‘floating mass’.

Integration of structure and space

The load-bearing system is absorbed within the thickness of the central volume. Thanks to this, the entire width of the interior living space can be freely utilized without pillars. The open day area is naturally connected to the exterior pavement and the pool surface, blurring the boundary between indoors and outdoors.

The houses were placed along the western border of the site. This secures a large outdoor living space on the east side and further strengthens the connection between the garden and swimming pool and the internal space. The plan was to gradually introduce new plantings while preserving existing mature trees to create a more lush landscape over time. The access road was moved to a quiet eastern road to increase privacy and distance it from the main thoroughfare.

Placement tailored to climate and daily rhythm

There is a transition space between the daytime area and the sports area. This space serves as a connecting passage and environmental buffer, and is arranged almost in a north-south direction to encourage natural ventilation. The bedroom is located on the east side to receive morning sunlight, thereby aligning the beginning of the day with the rhythm of the house.

The interior maintains a restrained palette, while oak material is applied to vertical surfaces and custom furniture to add warmth. It is a device that adds texture and depth to a minimalist space. With softly adjusted lighting, a residential atmosphere that balances clarity and comfort is completed.

Architect's Message: Precision Behind Simplicity

Kano House reads as a precise response to place and program. Behind the seemingly comfortable result, there is careful coordination of structure, direction, and spatial organization to form a cohesive whole. When viewed from above, the plan composition is clearly visible, with the central volume acting as an anchor for the overall layout.

The images taken by photographer Jesús Orrico clearly show how the pure white volume dialogues with the landscape under the Spanish light.