Dom Arquitectura used contrasting white and stone for the exterior of this house in Tarragona, Spain. Aiming to reference Roman city walls, the building is composed of two forms. On the ground floor, a stone facade opens up to a garden, while on the first floor, a white structure features balconies and terraces. The property, designed in 2018, also prioritises climate efficiency, using thermal insulation panels to prevent thermal bridges.

Stone and White Facades
Spanish studio Dom Arquitectura wrapped the ground floor of Tarragona House with a stone screen to reference Roman city fortifications.
The team used local construction traditions as a guide, so the ground floor of Tarragona House is fronted by dry stone. It acts as a “plinth emerging from the ground”.
Dom Arquitectura positioned the house on slightly sloping terrain in a pine forest, forming three levels: an entrance level, a ground floor area and garden.
The L-shaped plan encloses what architect Pablo Serrano calls a “visually enclosed environment”, ensuring it closes off from the rest of the nearby houses and road behind it while integrating into its natural surroundings.

“The stone facade is placed on prefabricated concrete panels,” Serrano said. “The prefabrication allows for relatively easy construction, reducing time, cost and waste generated on site.”
Serrano also notes that placing the stone as the base of the house creates “a series of vertical and ...