Valuing the Family
Valuing the Family
The Olive Grove
Customer
Location
Category
Visuals
Furniture
Private
Cáceres, Spain
Residential
Utopic
Minotti, Presotto & Pedrali
El Olivar:
Project information
Located in the heart of the Sierra Norte de Extremadura, this house is a synthesis of modernity and tradition. Set among centuries-old olive trees, its design is structured around contrast: technical solidity balanced with the lightness of empty spaces, and rigorous geometry in constant dialogue with the organic landscape. The architecture reinterprets its surroundings, establishing an inseparable link between contemporary life and the memory of the place.
Defined by sophistication and material precision, the central gallery acts as a connecting element between spaces and generations. This volume becomes the heart of the home, articulating a sequence of experiences—from childhood to adulthood—through shared spaces that open onto the mountains.
– La Vera, Cáceres.
A Home Rooted in Time
Dialogue between Landscape, Memory, and Contemporary Life
Designing a home in a unique setting such as El Olivar—an 80,000 m² expanse of olive trees—is an exercise in sensitivity, respect, and sophistication. Here, the architecture does not impose, but rather mediates: between the memory of the land and the present, between nature and habitability. Each material and each texture responds to a deep understanding of the essence of the place, its culture, and its identity.
The aim is for the house to appear as if it has always been there, not through mimicry, but through organic and poetic integration with its surroundings. The project listens to the rhythms of the landscape: the light filtering through the branches of the olive trees, the wind shaping the topography, and the constructive memory of the region.
The olive tree, an ancient witness to the passage of time, symbolizes dialogue between generations, a philosophy that is reflected in the architecture.
The materiality of the house embraces tradition reinterpreted through contemporary craftsmanship: local stone, carefully worked wood, breathable lime coatings, and structures that respect the human scale. The spaces blur the boundary between interior and exterior, promoting a way of living that flows naturally with the landscape.
Here, architecture does not pursue the ephemeral, but rather permanence and meaning: a balance where true luxury lies in authenticity and harmony with the earth. This concept is expressed mainly through two key elements: the prominence of the staircase and the diffused light contained in the prism.
From an aerial view, the composition reveals two offset volumes that converge around a central community core. This layout emphasizes the balance between private spaces and shared areas.
The pool area is clad in natural limestone finishes, evoking the timeless quality of the olive grove. Its reflective surface creates an oasis of calm that dialogues with the vastness of the Sierra Norte.
The shape of the house naturally creates outdoor spaces intended for private use, but which are visually open, establishing a constant dialogue between the play area, the pool, the house, the terrace, and the entrance.
Inside, the living room conveys a sense of serenity. Large windows frame views of the mountains and olive trees, creating a continuous dialogue between the interior spaces and the natural environment.
The striking triangular façade contrasts with the organic landscape. It represents the fusion of contemporary design and traditional materials, defining the unique identity of the home.
The furniture is aligned with the architectural language, reinforcing in every detail the concept that defines the essence of the project.
El Olivar: un refugio
atemporal que fusiona
tradición, modernidad y naturaleza para vivir en memoria compartida
El Olivar: a timeless
sanctuary fusing
tradition, modernity, and nature to embrace a shared home memory
