Ceramics reinterpret traditional architectural styles
An innovative housing concept for the future: A multigenerational home in Madrid combines traditional architecture with a modern VHF ceramic façade.
Amid the vibrant backdrop of Madrid stands a small architectural gem that is far more than just a residential building. The "Beyond the Family Kin Housing" project embodies the values and visions of a modern, multigenerational society. This multigenerational home embodies a concept for lifelong living in every detail of its design principles, characterized by durability and flexibility. The choice of the ceramic facade and tile design was no coincidence.
Designed by Ignacio G. Galán and OF Architects, this house was created with the goal of meeting the needs of different generations and enabling lifelong living. The open floor plan, characterized by seamless transitions, invites a variety of alternative living arrangements while fostering a sense of community.
Striking facade design
The building’s bold appearance is defined by its pitched roof and the blue ceramic facade of Agrob Buchtals KeraTwin® system, contrasted by the striking appearance of corrugated steel panels. The façade serves more than just an aesthetic purpose. It integrates several structural and technological strategies to incorporate energy efficiency and environmental quality into the project. To ensure the building’s longevity, the clients opted for a pre-fabricated, rear-ventilated ceramic façade on the architects’ recommendation. It is robust and durable, yet also flexible enough to be retrofitted or remodeled. The construction and ceramic panels provide the ideal foundation for the resilient architectural concept by Ignacio G. Galán and OF Architects, sustainably connecting the present and the future. The movable windows in the pitched roof are linked to automatic blinds that control heat and lighting to create a well-ventilated and comfortable interior. Solar panels, supported by the striking green steel structure on the roof, power the underfloor heating system throughout the house.
Energy-Efficient Tile Design
With a focus on energy efficiency, barrier-free design, and aesthetics, the homeowners have largely opted for a combination of underfloor heating and heat-conductive tiles throughout the interior. This contributes 100% to the home’s energy efficiency, as tiles allow for faster and more efficient heat transfer into the room compared to hardwood or other flooring. This combination is easy to install, sustainable in use, and unbeatably efficient over its lifespan. In the summer, the tiles stay pleasantly cool, making them particularly welcome and commonly used in warm countries like Spain. Using the natural, modern material of tile, the architects create comfortable and healthy indoor environments in their showcase project for residents of all ages.
’s Inclusive Spatial Concept Modern design is a central theme that is incorporated into both the interior and exterior of the house to promote inclusion and participation for all residents. While new buildings in the area tend to shift most of social life to their rear terraces, this building promotes the formation of communities and social connections through features such as a courtyard. The open design of the ground floor, with its direct connection to the street, also encourages engagement with the neighborhood community. A short ramp leads from street level to the entrance. Inside the building, a seamless sequence of spaces follows, catering to all needs—from toddlers to seniors, from scooters to wheelchairs—and allowing for comfortable and safe exploration and living: on each of the three floors, with varying degrees of autonomy and community.
In this innovative project, the architects viewed ceramics not merely as a material for facades, walls, or flooring, but as an integral component of an inclusive, healthy living environment. Not least thanks to the pre-stressed and ventilated ceramic façade, the building will be able to flexibly adapt to the diverse lifestyles of its residents and their changing needs in the future as well.
