On a cliff above the Mediterranean, an unusual home has been built. Casa del Acantilado is a complex, sensually curving home that mimics the shape of the waves beneath it. Its sinuous silhouette has nabbed the attention of architecture aficionados around the world.
Designed by GilBartolomé Architects, Casa del Acantilado makes the most of a difficult plot of land in Granada. The house is partly embedded in the hill, like a cave, to accommodate the 45-degree incline. While it proved to be a challenge for builders, the unique construction also provides incomparable views of the sea below.
The roof is the home's most stunning feature. “Like a second skin, it was produced using a handcrafted formwork system and efficient deformable metal mesh,” writes Azure Magazine. “The surface is covered in handcrafted zinc scales that flip up at one corner to catch the light.” Taken altogether, the roof has a sense of movement that mirrors the undulating waves of the Mediterranean, or perhaps the scaled skin of a coiled snake.
“We have a much higher emotional response to animals than to other humans or objects,” says Gil, “so we have tried to make a facade that evokes the idea of an animal and therefore provokes our fascination.”