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Casa Xaloc

Palma de Mallorca

Casa Xaloc

Palma de Mallorca
Interior1/2
Kitchen1/2
Garage1/2

Casa Xaloc

Palma de Mallorca

Located on the outskirts of Palma de Mallorca, Casa Xaloc is located on a very steep plot of southeast orientation, overlooking the bay of Palma. These conditions are decisive for the conception of the project.

Casa Xaloc

Palma de Mallorca

Located on the outskirts of Palma de Mallorca, Casa Xaloc is located on a very steep plot of southeast orientation, overlooking the bay of Palma. These conditions are decisive for the conception of the project.

Casa Xaloc is a contemporary reinterpretation of Mediterranean vernacular architecture.
A response to the topography, natural surroundings, and panoramic views. Through the redefinition of traditional construction systems, such as the Catalan vault or Mallorcan escars (in a bold gesture of bringing the sea to the mountains), a semi-buried dwelling with semicircular vaults is created. It adapts to a steep terrain, seeking the most favorable orientation in order to achieve maximum energy efficiency.
Fundació Pilar y Joan Miró, Taller Sert, Josep LLuis Sert1/4
Model1/3
Landscape and architecture depend on and nurture one another, so that it is difficult to difference one from the other. The vegetation takes over the facades and the roofs and enters the house through patios. In the same way, the interior spaces emerge from the terrain blurring the boundaries of the inside/outside. The house faces south-east while it turns its back to the hillside it blends with, adopting a wild, Mediterranean and native vegetation.

Casa Xaloc

Palma de Mallorca

Casa Xaloc

Palma de Mallorca

Thermal inertia

The house is partially integrated into the mountain to take advantage of the earth’s constant and comfortable temperature, thereby reducing heating and cooling demand.

Continuous insulation

The building is carefully shaped not only to take advantage of the views, but also in accordance with the site’s solar studies.
The openings and skylights are designed to maximize solar gain in winter while blocking the summer sun.

Cross ventilation

The courtyards and skylights provide cross ventilation throughout the building, harnessing natural winds and thermal currents to prevent overheating.

Heat recovery ventilation system

The heat exchanger ensures air renewal without wasting energy, maintaining a constant indoor temperature.

Solar studies

The building envelope features continuous insulation that protects all joints to completely avoid thermal bridges, combined with high-performance glazing.
Infiltration through the façade is minimized to enhance the building’s airtightness.
Vaulted geometry takes over the entire dwelling, creating spaces through the juxtaposition of vaults that extend into the terrain and are interrupted to form courtyards. It is an energy-efficient architecture that takes advantage of the thermal inertia of the ground and the cross ventilation allowed by the east-west openings. Given the orientation of the house, the windows are set back to protect the interior from the summer sun while allowing the winter sun to enter. At the same time, a series of skylights are camouflaged in the terrain, ensuring that the house receives south-facing light.
Section A1/4
The project has been designed to be certified as a Passive House and to achieve maximum energy efficiency, with a heating and air conditioning demand of only 15 kWh/(m²·year). This represents an almost 90% reduction in heating, air conditioning, and kitchen energy needs compared to a conventional building, resulting in extremely low energy costs for both the owner and the planet. This construction method falls within the nZEB standard (nearly zero-energy building).

Casa Xaloc

Palma de Mallorca

Casa Xaloc

Palma de Mallorca

Equipo & Premios