Destinations
Dates
Guests
Search
Greetings Traveler
Lock
result count
new
old
kinda-new
Filters

SpronkenHouse

  1. Pin

    Useras/Les Useres, Spain

  2. Suitcase

    12 guests

  3. BedDouble

    4 bedrooms

  4. Bath

    4 bathrooms


GradeLuxe
Luxe Living
A property with a high level of craftsmanship in architecture and design, as well as comfort.
Villa
Villa
A standalone house with a pool

Dutch Artist Xander Spronken’s Livable Sculpture

In the Castellon Hills of Les Usères, also known as the "Spanish Tuscany," there is a small private road leading to an immensity of land that serves as a large, earthy canvas. At the center is the house that Dutch artist Xander Spronken built: An “art house”, a holiday home in Spain that is at once a sculpture and a house greets you with its host of 6-meter high concrete pillars that do not loom so much as they soar.

Dutch Artist Xander Spronken’s Livable Sculpture

In the Castellon Hills of Les Usères, also known as the "Spanish Tuscany," there is a small private road leading to an immensity of land that serves as a large, earthy canvas. At the center is the house that Dutch artist Xander Spronken built: An “art house”, a holiday home in Spain that is at once a sculpture and a house greets you with its host of 6-meter high concrete pillars that do not loom so much as they soar.

Spronken approaches architecture the way he does all his artpieces. Negative space is valued as much as positive mass, air and void animated by light and the inexplicable emotion of volume. Speaking of the many towering doors that connect the indoors with the out, he says, “I make the doors high because…why half? I go on until it feels good.”

Spronken House is a sprawling 310 square meters of living space encompassing four bedrooms, four baths and two pools. The dimensions offer air and space in the noblest sense. Its proportions have a long-legged allure that invoke a prehistoric awe of nature. 

Spronken loves “pure things”, as he puts it, which explains the elements that are left as raw as possible: dense unvarnished wooden beams that speak of trees that continue to live, forged iron hinges and frames, sweeping panels of glass. We particularly love that there is no burden of heft in this enormous structure. On the contrary, there is an airiness that arises from the play of light, indoor/outdoor perspectives, and delicately framed views of the Iberian Mountains, no doubt thanks to the mastery of multi-layered form that Spronken is known for. 

It appears the idea of a livable sculpture, or sculpture one can live in, came as a natural realization after the fact. Spronken had built this house drawing from the same source he does for his sculptures. And so, how is it not a sculpture? It is the way of seeing that makes the difference. It certainly heightens Spronken’s own enjoyment of the house. There is a palpable delight in his voice when he says “This is a piece of art that you can use…I like this very much because you can dwell around it. And in much sculptures, I can’t… It’s really nice to be here, and to just sit here, and enjoy it. The other sculptures I enjoy also but you don’t sit it in. You are not all the time with it, together.”

Such is the interest of art we can live in: A communion with the piece, a simple, almost affectionate enjoyment of being together. Spronken’s nephew Joris Dassen has taken to the task of sharing, opening up his uncle’s sculpture to like-minded guests, an invitation to discover and comprehend the artwork that unveils itself to those who take the time.

The west and east wings of the house can be rented individually or combined to accommodate larger groups.

 

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Wifi throughout, Bluetooth speaker, climate control, kitchen and bath essentials, laundry facilities. 

 

AROUND

Equidistant from Valencia and Barcelona, the little village of Les Useres in the Castellon region lies just a half hour from the coast and has been relatively undisturbed by tourism.

A deeply rural, old world region, the lifestyle remains as it has here for hundreds of years, with lovely hilltop villages, ancient castles, vast farms, shepherds tending their flocks and olive and almond groves.

Every Spring for over seven hundred years, the pilgrims of Les Useres set out on  a days long pilgrimage to the sacred mountain of Penyagolosa, not unlike the famous Camino de Santiago, where they are joined by locals, a procession of animals and village priests along pathways that date back to the Bronze Age.  

The region's seaside capital, Castellon de la Plana is a unique mix of modern resort town blended with lovely historic mansions, plazas, a central market and a pedestrian-friendly town center with excellent cafes, nightlife and shops. 

Flanked by the popular Playas Gurugu, Serradal and Del Pinar, the beaches are a a half hour from the house. The Columbretes Islands National Park are a thirty mile boat ride off shore and worth a visit. 

 

LOCATION

Les Useres, Spain. Nearest Airport: Castellón (mainly private airplanes, 20 min.), Valencia Airport (1hr), Barcelona - El Prat 2.5 hrs), Alicante - Eche Airport (2hr 45 min).

 

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year round


Photos

spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_exterior.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_exterior-pool.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-lifestyle.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-design.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-lights.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_exterior-kitchen.jpg
42a2e4e947a776c8bad697207e974990f70a9288.jpg
fbd073c45ddf3c0a6f92c6c4c2ae6248bb8b7442.jpg
eba1fcf2382f8440e63aa4b8f84fd03b45980f5e.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_exterior-detail-pool.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-architecture.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-design-space.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-detail-architecture.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-stairs.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-detail.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-kitchen.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-kitchen-detail.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-two-beds.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-bedroom.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-bathroom-sink.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_interior-bathroom.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_exterior-detail-facade.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_exterior-detail.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_exterior-golden-hour.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_exterior-sunset.jpg
spronkenhhouse_villa_useras-spain_exterior-night.jpg
02746f0e4634a68e0651f3d063ee9ff2df453c57.jpg
fab12aa3cda631991a352936c629d146cc10958d.jpg
0829a4165a3053049807f10040b72d9f5cc16e3f.jpg
ed709b6ced1485a063f51c9a5315dc892fa18ef6.jpg

Amenities

Here’s what you can expect during your stay:

  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
    Fully equipped
  • Wifi
    Internet
    Wifi throughout
  • Pool
    Pool

Additional Information

Discover more about this property.

GeneralChevronDown
Bedrooms
2
Full Bathrooms
2

How long would you like to stay?

Minimum 2 nights



Location

Discover more about where you’ll be staying.

Useras/Les Useres, Spain

Sign up for the Latest
Travel Offers & Intel

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover new homes & deals as they're released, as well as the latest editorial.

Lock
Lock
Lock