In the serene landscape of Caldes de Malavella, Girona, Spain, a new architectural statement emerges, poised like Andreu Alfaro’s sculpture Figure About to Fly – eternally static yet humming with potential motion. Fran Silvestre Arquitectos has conceived the Camiral House, a dwelling that transcends mere shelter to become a symphony of context, light, and unparalleled wellbeing. This isn’t just a home; it’s Europe’s first WELL-certified single-family residence, a testament to design harmoniously fused with health.
Responding directly to its exceptional natural setting adjacent to the Camiral golf club, the house navigates a narrow, elongated plot with remarkable precision. The geometry emerges as a direct conversation with the land: a longitudinal volume strategically extruded to capture the predominant views and foster a continuous relationship between interior and exterior. The ground floor unfolds as the day area, anchoring the living room towards the open landscape, while the kitchen and a bedroom face east, greeting the morning sun.
Above, the narrative evolves. A cantilevered volume, slightly offset, houses the night area and performs a masterful double act. It creates a vast, covered terrace – a space of shade and climatic comfort – while simultaneously framing the panoramic vistas without intrusive structural elements. This move intensifies the connection with the surroundings, making the landscape an ever-present inhabitant. Strategic façade openings are minimal yet potent: one marks the entrance and vertical circulation on the ground floor; another bathes the main bedroom in southern light above, creating a dynamic yet serene external reading.
The heart of Camiral House beats within its vertical circulation core. A staircase, lit dramatically from above by a north-facing opening, forms a vertical void connecting all levels visually and functionally. The handrail, conceived as a single continuous line, reinforces this spatial unity. On the upper floor, this void expands into a study, transforming circulation space into the project’s vibrant core, enabling efficient use of the floor plan through perimeter movement. Below, the partially underground basement provides essential mass, housing the garage, technical areas, and multipurpose space, crucial for the structural balance of the cantilever above.
Yet, the true revolution lies in its WELL certification, meticulously developed by Espacios Evalore. Fran Silvestre Arquitectos structured every decision around seven pillars: air, water, nourishment, light, physical activity, comfort, and mind. This commitment manifests in groundbreaking features: an advanced ventilation system employing UV radiation and photocatalytic oxidation purification; paints neutralizing pollutants; antimicrobial surfaces; meticulously calibrated indirect natural lighting; and a circadian lighting system syncing with biological rhythms. A reverse osmosis filterensures pure, low-mineral water.
The wellness extends beyond the walls. A rigorous geobiological study guarantees a site free from disruptive electromagnetic interference and natural radiation. The design actively enhances connection with the outdoors and natural cycles, incorporating biophysical criteria. Initiatives like beehives for local honey production, organic gardening workshops, and direct access to hiking and cycling trails foster an active and healthy relationship with the environment.
Camiral House stands as frozen music in the Catalan landscape – a sculpted form by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos where luxury architecture is redefined through sustainable design and a profound commitment to human health. It is a landmark in wellness real estate, proving that contemporary design in Spain can be as responsible as it is breathtakingly beautiful, forever framing the Girona vistas within a sanctuary of pure, certified wellbeing.