Villa La Moraleja | Vasco Vieira Arquitectos

From the beginning, the vision for Villa La Moraleja was clear — to create a home that doesn’t just sit on the land but lives with it. The goal wasn’t simply to build within nature, but to allow the architecture to grow from it, forming a seamless relationship between the constructed and the organic. What emerged is a home that feels less like an imposition and more like a continuation of the landscape itself.

Positioned among mature trees, the site offered a natural canopy we were intent on preserving. Rather than clearing the plot, we took a surgical approach, identifying open pockets in the vegetation and carefully nesting the villa’s volumes within them. This decision shaped the design — a series of interlinked forms that thread between the trees. Portions of the house are elevated above the terrain, minimizing earth movement and allowing greenery to flow underneath. Light and shadow filter through the branches and across surfaces, constantly reshaping the spatial experience throughout the day.

To root the architecture further into its setting, we chose a material palette that responds directly to its context. The exterior blends brown VMZinc and timber cladding with planted roofs that visually merge with the treetops. These materials aren’t just about aesthetics — they’re sustainable, durable, and designed to age gracefully in place. The landscape architecture follows the same principles, preserving natural contours and existing flora. Lawns were replaced with seasonal wild grasses, offering evolving textures and colors year-round.

Inside, the dialogue with nature continues. The layout flows intuitively, balancing openness with function. A restrained use of materials like microcement creates clean, continuous surfaces that reflect the villa’s quiet sophistication. Floor-to-ceiling glass panels open the home to its environment, softening the threshold between interior and exterior. Two sculptural metal staircases introduce movement and sculptural contrast, serving as visual anchors in the villa’s double-height spaces.

Every element of the design was guided by respect — for the land, the climate, and the future. Sustainability wasn’t an afterthought; it was integral. The result is a villa where architecture and environment are in constant conversation. It’s a home where nature isn’t just admired from a distance, but engaged with — shaping light, views, and experience. A living space that’s not just built into the landscape, but truly part of it.

Project Info:

• Architects: Vasco Vieira Arquitectos
• Country: Alcobendas, Spain
• Area: 1500 m²
• Year: 2021
• Photographs: Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
• Lead Architects: Vasco Vieira
• Project Manager: Luis Alvarez

• Local Architect: Julio Oloriz