In 2024, designer Bouman created Casa Boratuna, located in Vall del Llémena, Spain. The house respects Catalan vernacular architecture, resembling traditional masia farmhouses. Positioned on cross terraces, it offers views of the valley. Local stone and wooden gabled roofs connect with regional history, while the compact, square floor plan includes a central living space and corner bedrooms. Highly insulated, the house uses aerothermal energy, aligning with passive house standards for low energy consumption. Casa Boratuna thus balances traditional aesthetics with modern functionality.
Casa Boratuna, designed by Bouman in 2024, draws inspiration from Catalan vernacular architecture. The design reflects a respect for the traditional masia, a rural farmhouse typical of the region. The goal was to create a building that blends naturally with its surroundings, offering comfort and functionality for modern life.
Positioned on a plot organised into a series of existing cross terraces, the house faces the picturesque views of Vall del Llémena, Gironès. The organisation allows the outdoor programme to be efficiently arranged on the land. The widest terrace accommodates the house, while other terraces serve as the orchard, pool, terrace, or access and car park.
The design of the house integrates naturally with its surroundings, appearing as if it has always been part of the landscape. This was achieved by carefully considering the building’s form, materials, and placement.
Rather than making a bold architectural statement, the design embraces a quiet, understated presence. The use of local stone and wooden gabled roofs connects the house to the region’s history, resembling the masia style that has long characterised the area. These materials and forms help the house feel timeless, as if it has evolved with the land over many years, rather than being a recent construction.
This focus on anonymity means that Casa Boratuna doesn’t stand out or demand attention. Instead, it coexists with the environment, quietly becoming part of the landscape.
The interior layout is designed as a compact, square floor plan, with a central and transverse space functioning as the foyer, kitchen, living room, and dining room. The bedrooms, a bathroom, and the laundry room are organised along the sides of this space, with one bedroom in each corner.
The house is highly insulated and uses a heating and hot water production system through aerothermal energy, approaching passive house standards. This design achieves very low energy consumption, and the compact shape of the volume maximises the building’s energy efficiency.
Casa Boratuna effectively balances traditional aesthetics with modern functionality, harmonising with its environment while maintaining practical, energy-efficient comfort.
