Design Process
Designing a seafront home
*Update: Please contact our team for current pricing.
Who has not, at some point, wished for the peace and quiet of a beautiful seafront home?
Listening to the ebb and flow of the waves, the occasional seagull, and the surrounding wild nature.
The coast undoubtedly offers relaxation and enjoyment. And given the climate and setting we have,
Why not consider investing in the design of a seafront home?
In addition to being an exceptional lifestyle choice, it is a long-term investment, as seafront homes are always a high-value asset in the property market and are easy to rent out or sell if necessary.
Today’s article aims to present the current state of the coastal land market in Spain, so that you can get an idea of current prices, and then address topics more closely related to the design of a seafront home, approached from the sustainable perspective we promote at our studio Slow Studio.
Seafront plots on the Spanish coast
As a peninsula, Spain has many areas, plots, towns, and cities in contact with the sea. Today we will focus on available land in two main areas: the Mediterranean coast and the Cantabrian coast.
The purchase and renovation of existing homes is another topic we will cover later in a more specific article.
Options and costs on the Mediterranean coast
To provide some context, in this first part of the article we share current market prices for plots classified as developable in different areas of interest in Spain. The search was carried out online, a fairly reliable method that we recommend if you are considering buying land to design your seafront home.
It is important to use filters by area, price range, and even size, otherwise the results can be overwhelming.
In our case, once we filtered by area and plot type, we sorted the results by the ratio between size (m2) and price (€), to make it easier to compare each option we explain.
Based on our clients’ requests, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and Mallorca are the areas with the most activity and demand for new-build construction.
Let us look in detail at the options in each of them.
Catalonia
Plots on the Tarragona coast:
The Tarragona area offers a wide range of options, as it has seen a decline in occupancy and tourism in recent years. At present, we can find well-priced plots with acceptable dimensions, making it an area worth considering. The price range per square metre of plot will depend on the location, features, and size of the land, but with some research we can find plots from €5/m2 up to €1,000/m2. In terms of location quality, the Costa Daurada offers all kinds of beaches and coves, from long sandy beaches to small coves with coarser sand and native nature that reaches right to the shoreline.
The climate is pleasant and, thanks to its conditions and beach accessibility, it offers a very wide range of sea and nature-related activities (sailing, paddleboarding, windsurfing, kayaking, volleyball, hiking, wine routes, etc.).
Plots on the Maresme coast:
Secondly, due to its level of occupancy, the Maresme area has become very exclusive. It is difficult to find available plots to invest in and carry out the design of a seafront home; however, if we move a little away from the coastline and look in the mountains, we will likely find much more availability, while maintaining sea views and orientation, and adding direct contact with a protected natural area: the Montnegre i el Corredor Natural Park. As a result, the plots we can find at a more affordable price are around €30/m2 and can rise to €1,000/m in high-end residential developments.
Plots on the Costa Brava:
The Costa Brava is somewhat similar to Maresme. Tourism and occupancy in that part of Catalonia have increased significantly in recent times. In addition, it has many protected areas that reach the sea’s edge, so finding an available plot is exclusive and expensive.
In this case, as mentioned, plots further from the seafront are valued at around €10/m2, but as we get closer to the shoreline we find plots at €1,200/m2.
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community coastline is also a highly sought-after location on the Mediterranean for designing a seafront home. It offers long, fine-sand beaches, a warm climate, and an excellent range of services.
In real estate terms, the area with the most activity is Valencia.
We can find plots with sea views from €10/m2 up to €2,000/m2 on the seafront in Gandía, for example.
Mallorca
Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands. It is known for its coves and beaches, many of them protected, limestone mountains, a Mediterranean landscape, and a rich history. Leisure is promoted mainly in the larger cities, but overall there is a calm atmosphere in a natural setting, making the design of a seafront home on this island ideal.
Tourism and property development have made seafront plots very exclusive and expensive. In addition, the government has introduced strict building regulations to curb the overcrowding that has occurred in recent years. Prices range from €30/m2 up to €330/m2.
In any case, the alternative of moving a little away from the coast to look for inland options that still offer Mediterranean views is excellent, as well as more affordable. Care must be taken not to choose land classified as an Área Natural de Interés Paisajístico (ANEI), as building would not be permitted.
At Slow Studio, we are well acquainted with this and other regulations because one of our most recent projects, the house for Oscar and Emma, was carried out in Mallorca.
It may serve as a reference and inspiration—please feel free to explore this and other projects completed by our studio.
Options and costs on the Atlantic coast
Finally, Spain has seen a notable increase in tourism towards the north of the peninsula. The Atlantic coast, and especially the Cantabrian coast, has more than sixty beaches—fine, white sand and clean waters. Large, small, urban, wild, sheltered and tranquil, or open to the Cantabrian Sea, they leave no one indifferent.
In addition, the natural landscape that accompanies them is impressive. The mountains reach the water, forming green bays and rocky cliffs with magnificent views.
Surfing and the culture around the sea and nature are also part of the local culture. For this reason, and increasingly so, schools, campsites, and facilities are being created that are ideal for families to enjoy the beach and surroundings—swapping the towel for a surfboard.
As for land, since this is an area that has not yet been heavily developed, we can find magnificent plots at a good price on which to design a seafront home. In general, current market prices for developable plots with sea views range from €5/m2 to around €80–90/m2. Not bad!
What to consider when designing a seafront home
Understanding the place: climate and conditions of a seafront home
First of all, when we think about designing a seafront home, we must be very clear about certain site parameters that will influence it. The climate and the terrain morphology are two basic aspects to consider.
The Spanish coast, located in the planet’s temperate zone, offers temperatures that can rise to 40°C in summer and drop to 2–3°C in a typical winter.
Taking these changes into account, it is also worth noting that if we buy a seafront plot to build a house, we will likely focus it more on use during the warmer times of the year—spring and summer. That does not mean we should not design it in a way that ensures comfort all year round.
If our goals also include the home’s energy efficiency and sustainability, it is vital to bear in mind that in coastal locations energy demand is higher in summer, because we will need to offset excess solar radiation with alternative cooling systems.
We can use passive strategies such as cross ventilation, shaded porches, and interior courtyards that create cool spaces sheltered from the sun.
Design constraints for a seafront home
That said, the design of a seafront home should not overlook its privileged setting, and we will need to know how to balance certain aspects of thermal comfort with the open-to-the-landscape design the client will likely want.
1. Views
We will start with views, a decisive factor when choosing the plot and, consequently, in the design of a seafront home.
Ensuring certain sightlines towards the sea and the surroundings will shape the house project, which is why it is important for the architectural team to know the site well and understand the client’s preferences, so they can be incorporated into the design and treated as a premise to be respected.
Openings can be designed in many ways. They will frame the landscape from the inside; however, studios such as Slow Studio are able to incorporate filter systems or porches that, while maintaining views of the landscape, prevent excessive heat loss or gain from solar radiation inside the home.
2. Privacy
Privacy is something we sometimes forget when thinking about the design of a seafront home, because we focus so much on ensuring certain outward views that we forget that, at the same time, we are visible from outside.
For this reason, we work with vegetative screens, construction systems, orientation, or rotations in the home that ensure the client’s privacy in their own house.
3. Accessibility
Some of the areas mentioned above have rugged terrain, so access to the home can be complicated due to changes in level.
It will therefore be important to study the land carefully and, if necessary, work with the slope to ensure good accessibility both from outside and within the development of the home’s levels (if it has them).
4. Proximity/distance to services, resources, town centres, beaches, etc.
When looking for land that is not yet developed, we may find some plots that are very far from town centres and services. This aspect should be assessed before purchasing the plot, and the chosen area should be studied carefully by understanding routes and distances to nearby towns, supermarkets, hospitals, and nearby beaches.
5. Comfort
Finally, one of the most important points in the design of a seafront home is comfort.
We should be able to use the house throughout all seasons, bearing in mind that we will likely get the most use out of it in spring and summer.
Thermal comfort can be achieved in many ways, but at Slow Studio we advocate sustainable design and thermal-efficiency concepts to achieve it.
With simple strategies, we can achieve a comfortable, temperate indoor environment throughout the year without needing to invest heavily in non-renewable alternative energy.
Working with building materials with high thermal mass (stone, adobe, concrete) will help us keep the indoor temperature stable.
In the same vein, if the land allows it, we can take advantage of its slope to bury parts of the home. The subsoil acts as insulation and remains at the same temperature all year round.
As for windows, they will provide light and heat to the interior spaces. In summer, it is vital to control this radiation through filters, porches, vegetation, etc., as excessive radiation on glazed surfaces can greatly increase indoor temperature and be uncomfortable in terms of glare.
In addition, windows placed on opposite façades create airflow that is ideal for ventilating rooms and bringing in freshness. If we plan to place a sheet of water or a pool beneath these openings, the airflow becomes humidified, cooling the indoor environment even further.
Finally, opting for climate-control systems powered by renewable energy—such as biomass, wind turbines, Canadian wells, and solar panels—can help ensure comfort within the design of a seafront home.
In short, the coast offers great benefits and wellbeing, making it an excellent place to design a seafront home.
We have seen how to find available plots, in which areas and within what price ranges, as well as some initial notions of what we must consider to design our ideal home.
If you have any questions, our team is at your disposal. We will be delighted to assist you and are very much looking forward to taking part in the design of a seafront home.