A white monolith set on a plateau above a steeply sloping site on the Costa Brava, Spain. This elegant retreat, designed by Sydney-based studio Mathieson Architects, offers a dramatic landscape view and it looks like a frame for the green of the local pine trees and the blue of the sky.

The approach to the house is dominated by brise-soliel screens. A single aperture with a sandblasted timber door opens to the minimalist interior and a framed view of the striking coast beyond.

The design celebrates the afforded vista through a singular horizontal opening the length of the house. This volume comprises a deep canopy providing shade and linking the living and sleeping quarters into one form.

Deep punctures in the canopy provide a play of light and shadow as the sun tracks across the sky throughout the day. Full height glazed doors to the living wing stack back, allowing for a seamless transition between indoors and outdoors, aided by the region’s climate.

An expansive terrace leads to an infinity-edge pool and views to the Mediterranean beyond, combined to create a triple layer of rich blues. Rendered walls, monolithic white floors, and raw oak joinery form a restrained palette that amplifies the intensity of the coastal setting.

Phillip Mathieson’s studio leads an approach to design that is grounded in Modernist principles of authentic, timeless design and planning rigour. The firm has gained a reputation as a leading practice whose work has been widely published both in Australia, and internationally. With significant experience in designing and delivering high-end projects across a range of residential, multi-residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors.

This is not the first time we have showcased the studio’s work, and it is highly unlikely to be the last.