Corten Steel House Shaped by the Mountain Itself | Szoke House

Built into a steep hillside and finished in weathered corten steel, Szoke House blends seamlessly with the rugged terrain of Mount Abantos near Madrid. Designed with a staggered layout that follows the natural slope, the house features large openings, cross-ventilation, and panoramic views of the surrounding pine forest and the domes of the El Escorial Monastery.

In this video, we take you inside this one-of-a-kind hillside home, where every level connects differently with the landscape. From its split-level floor plan to its rust-colored steel exterior, Szoke House is a perfect example of sustainable architecture that respects the land while offering comfort, functionality, and visual impact.

Located in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, this unique residence adapts to both climate and topography. Discover how this contemporary home captures winter sun, channels cool summer breezes, and uses natural materials to minimize visual impact in a forested environment.

Watch now to explore the design strategies behind this striking modern home, its intelligent use of terrain, and how it turns a steep slope into an architectural advantage.

Credits:

Architects: Aranguren&Gallegos Arquitectos
Location: San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
Area: 450 m²
Date: 2018 – 2020
Photograph: Jesús Granada

Similar Posts

  • Waverley Residence

    Designed for a young couple, the 5,000 sf home and 1,700 sf back house sit on a flat 21,000 sf lot in a 1920’s Palo Alto neighborhood (a few blocks away from Steve Jobs’ residence). The architecture is a study in strong simple composition and is museum-like with its highly refined materiality and emphasis on craft. The massing defines solid and void, captures natural light, and connects the indoors with the landscape, seeking to ‘experience the outdoors from within.’ The ground floor volumes wrapped in an elongated hand-fired brick from Denmark, emphasizing the horizontality of the architecture that lays solidly on the land. Bronze-trimmed ceiling planes slide between the brick masses, and floor-to-ceiling glazed openings are captured by thin-profiled bronze frames. In contrast to the grounded brick volumes, the second floor is clad in stainless steel panels and oversized aluminum-framed windows. The lightness and openness of the second floor is nestled among the oak-tree canopies of the site. At the basement level, a wine cellar and tasting room open to a sunken landscaped courtyard. A 30ft by 10ft continuous pane of glass runs alongside the grand stairwell of floating stone steps, connecting the three levels of the house. Due to the unprecedented size of this glass in residential design, it was custom manufactured in Germany and shipped to California. This dramatic moment in the sequence of progressing through the house helps visitors feel connected to the lush landscape outside. Inside the house, materials such as a custom leather door and bronze anodized details were selected for their unique craftsman-style quality. Another custom-designed element is the steel mesh screen that wraps around to enclose the kitchen for privacy, separating this from the more public “guest hosting” areas adjacent. The steel screen slides along a track embedded into the teak slatted ceiling and disappears into the pantry when retracted. A freestanding structure set deep back into the site is a zen-like fitness/yoga studio as well as a guesthouse with a kitchenette. This dramatic stone mass opens up completely in the center to give the impression of exercising outdoors. The landscape integrates California native plant species, grasses and trees to compliment the materiality of the architecture.

  • Iconic Décor and Vintage Charisma Reshape this Exquisite Brazilian Home

    It is not every day that you come across a home that is as unique and special as the Londrina House designed by Todos Arquitetura. It is not the design of the house or its façade that make his Brazilian residence that bit special. Instead, it is the amazing collection of décor inside the house […]

    You’re reading Iconic Décor and Vintage Charisma Reshape this Exquisite Brazilian Home, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

  • Smart Makeover: Space-Savvy Modern Bedroom in White and Wood

    Your bedroom is a safe refuge that you can turn to after a long, hard day to rest, relax and find energy for another busy day. At least, that is what to needs to be! Revamped to meet the needs of a fast-paced urban lifestyle, Bela’s Room in Sudoeste, Brasília is a delightful 22-square meter […]

    You’re reading Smart Makeover: Space-Savvy Modern Bedroom in White and Wood, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.