The architect’s inspiration came from the reclaimed eucalyptus wood of the “bateas”. These are the mussel production platforms in the estuary and that constitute the very important local industry in “Ria da Arousa”, Spain. Eucalyptus wood is used in these platforms, and there are extensions of this tree in the region. The age of the wood is not hidden, and the different outer and inner faces of the wood are used to create different sensations. The house tries to borrow the tradition of the surroundings and reveal them through the story told in the design and the detailing.

Inaki Leite Design is an award winning architectural practice, known for its excellence in design, founded by iñaki leite. We offer a wide range of design and architectural services in collaboration with a trusted network of experienced contractors to deliver seamless residential projects across West London. At the heart of our approach is a belief in the transformative potential of architecture. Good architecture is not simply about aesthetics, but rather holds the possibility of transforming day-to-day lives and routines. Innovation and usability are key, and form the cornerstone of our approach. Through close collaboration with clients, and through tapping into our network’s depth of knowledge and expertise, we are able to develop design solutions that transform our clients’ day-to-day lives. Specialises in residential architecture across Spain including Canary and Balearics, West London, predominantly in Chelsea, Kensington, Fulham and Richmond. We offer a complete design service, from inception to completion, and take care of all the project management and planning applications in between, to provide you with a seamless and stress-free service. Our experience in the local area means that we have a high success rate of achieving planning permission for our clients. The principal architect, Iñaki Leite, has a wealth of experience with internationally renowned architecture practices, such as Eisenman Architects in New York, and AMID.cero9 in Madrid. His projects have been awarded numourous prizes, among them the “Most Innovative Contemporary Residential Design” 2016 Architecture Awards by BUILD magazine and the “First of the Top Villas of Spain and Portugal” given by The Sunday Times. In addition, he taught as professor at the School of Architecture at UEM University, Madrid, focusing on global building systems and energy efficiency, and has worked on a number of high profile public projects. Specialising in contemporary design and modern architecture, our solutions push boundaries and are highly innovative, yet always sensitive to existing surroundings, particularly in Victorian London. As residential architects in London, we are committed to working closely with clients to ensure only the highest satisfaction at all stages of the project. Our collaborative network includes the best in business in areas of mechanics, quantity surveyors, landscape, lighting, digital tools, security and transport. Together we for a multidisciplinary team that offers highly qualified expertise in all aspects of a building’s design and formation.

The architect’s inspiration came from the reclaimed eucalyptus wood of the “bateas”. These are the mussel production platforms that you see in the estuary and that constitute one of the most important local industry in “Ria da Arousa”, Spain. Eucalyptus wood is used in these platforms, and there are great extensions of this tree in the region. The house tries to borrow the tradition of the surroundings and reveal them through the story told in the design and the detailing. All shape, technology and materials are inspired in this fishing industry. The house resembles the old booths on top of these mussel platforms, and similarly to them, some parts of the house appear to float. The very intention of using this material, shape and technology was to integrate the architecture of the building with the culture and tradition of the area. Therefore integration of culture is very important in its design. Some other premises to be achieve by the house were to respect its natural surroundings, had to be environmentally friendly, obtain maximum energy efficiency, bring in great natural light and achieve a relaxing atmosphere. In addition to this and as a special feature, the kitchen had to be spacious and play an important role in the core of the house as a key social space. The building process was challenging with the shape and slope of the plot, the local planning restrictions affecting new constructions in the coast, and the very hard rock that was found on the back of the site. We managed to overcome these difficulties and use some of them, like the rock, to our advantage. The final outcome is a house protected by the rock, open to the sea views and with the living room facing south to seek the sun. The space is divided into two interconnecting volumes. The more private one can be closed from the outside, and protected from the sun with the folding wooden shutters facing south. This private volume has the rough, stressed texture of the reclaimed wood on its outer façade. The opposite occurs in the public volume, which has the wood inside. The interior in this volume reveals a smoother cut of the wood, providing a sense of comfort and warmth, while the exterior has the raw concrete. This volume is the one that contains the main living and dining areas, has expansive south-facing glazing and allows you to see the peaceful waters of the estuary in front of the house. The age of the wood is not hidden, and the different outer and inner faces of the wood are used to create different sensations. In the living room the wood is purposely set to frame and direct the view to the exterior and in mind relaxing spaces. The design process did not stop with the building. It continued down to the furniture done by local craftsmen: leather door handles, wooden lamp, batea wood chairs, steel staircase, etc.