Casa Roble

Concrete and Glass Combine at Architectural Statement Residence near Madrid

Named “roble house” for the giant holm oaks that flank its façade, this brutalist-inspired statement residence features a double-height, glass-enclosed façade looking northward and a softer, more accessible, single-level south façade that's framed by vegetation. It's a striking contemporary architectural gem where the Pedrezuela Reservoir gleams in the background.

The bold residence was created by Muka Arquitectura and completed in 2024. It stands as a massive concrete volume, accented by glass, metal and wood, laid out to follow an upward spiral from the social to the private, all spaces infused with natural light from walls of windows.

Enter the home on its upper level and you'll find yourself in a hall with an open-plan wardrobe with two beds inside it (convertible into a double bed). There is also a corridor with a long wooden workspace built into the picture windows, a double bedroom framed by oversized windows, and a one-of-a-kind showpiece shower and adjacent suspended concrete bathtub. The bathroom area is built into a huge, floor-to-ceiling, central concrete cylinder that dominates the home, and houses the fireplace below on the ground floor.

Stepping downstairs from the upper level to the home’s ground level is via a concrete stairwell. The ground floor features a library, sitting room with a sofa and armchair, a cylindrical concrete double-sided fireplace, the dining room and kitchen, and a sunken projection room that can be used for overflow sleeping.

Outdoors there are paved terraces on both levels, a verdant lawn with a plunge pool, a built-in, adult-sized swing, in addition to a furnished rooftop terrace with amazing views of the reservoir.

Layout

First floor: Hall with wardrobe and two beds (convertible to a double), corridor with workstation, a WC, shower and hanging bath, double bedroom

Ground floor: Library, living area, fireplace, dining area, cinema area (with bed option), bathroom, kitchen, washing room

Around

Located just thirty minutes from Madrid, in the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama, the residence offers views of the Embalse de Pedrezuela, a reservoir constructed in the 1960s that serves as an important water supply for the region. Surrounded by beautiful forests and hills, the reservoir is a popular spot for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. There’s hiking, fishing and birdwatching in the area, with birders catching sight of both waterfowl (such as ducks, the Great Crested Grebe, the Northern Shoveler) and also birds of prey (such as Griffon vultures, Eurasian black vultures, eagles and kites).

The house makes a great base for outdoor enthusiasts, who can birdwatch or walk the path along the reservoir’s banks that departs from the town of Guadalix. A great escape from the city for water sports practitioners, the reservoir is great for kayaking and SUPs, and a favorite of windsurfers, too. Guides and equipment for hire are available at the Guadalix Marina, and the Marina also offers kayaks, and canoes for touring the lake. Hikers can take to the Cueva de Peña Rubia trail, a 4.5-mile loop around the reservoir, among others, and mountain bikers enjoy the gravelly single tracks near the reservoir and steeper rides into the Sierra de Guadarrama, while road cyclists can take the designated bike lane from Alcobendas to Soto el Real.

Location

Pedrezuela, Madrid, Spain. Nearest airport: Madrid (1 hour)

Best time to visit

March to November