On a gently sloping site overlooking the Mediterranean, a modern white home quietly settles into the landscape. Designed by NOMO STUDIO, the house sits in Coves Noves, a neighborhood along the north east coast of Minorca in Spain. From the outside it appears calm and minimal, but its design carefully responds to its surroundings, shaping views, sunlight, and airflow into the daily experience of the home.
A Home Designed To Guide The View
The house, known as Patio House, was designed with a very deliberate approach to its setting. While the site enjoys expansive views toward the sea, nearby neighbors and a tall hotel building disrupt the horizon.
Instead of ignoring these obstacles, the architects used them as a starting point for the design. The house was planned to intentionally direct views toward selected parts of the landscape while shielding less desirable sightlines. Through the placement of walls and glazing, the architecture frames the sea, the surrounding vegetation, and the garden while quietly blocking what the owners would rather not see.
At the center of the plan, a square courtyard carved from the structure allows light to reach deep into the home. This patio also creates visual connections through the house, linking indoor spaces with outdoor areas while maintaining privacy from neighboring properties.
A Contemporary Interpretation Of Local Architecture
The exterior of the home draws inspiration from traditional fisherman’s architecture found across the island. Whitewashed walls form the main surfaces of the building, giving the house a familiar Mediterranean presence.
Touches of color appear through navy blue and deep green shutters that echo regional building traditions. At the same time, the design introduces a contemporary layer through the use of large perforated aluminum sliding panels finished in a soft pastel turquoise.
They also serve practical purposes by blocking strong sunlight during the day and securing the house when it is closed for the season. The textured plaster of the exterior walls contrasts with the smooth frames surrounding the large windows, adding subtle variation to the otherwise restrained palette.
Light Filled Spaces Shaped By Ceiling Geometry
The interior spaces rely heavily on natural light. Large windows allow daylight to enter throughout the day, while the architecture itself helps amplify the effect.
High ceilings shift in inclination from room to room, creating surfaces that reflect and distribute light deeper into the home. Combined with the light color palette, this geometry helps the interiors feel bright and open.
Sliding glass walls strengthen the connection between inside and outside, allowing living spaces to open directly to the garden and patio. Continuous white marble floors extend across the interior and outdoor areas, further dissolving the boundaries between the two.
Small Details Bring Color To An All White Interior
Inside, the home maintains a calm palette dominated by white surfaces and natural light. Only a few carefully placed elements interrupt the neutral tones.
Turquoise accents appear in places such as the pool, the stair railing, and the kitchen furniture. These details create a gentle thread of color throughout the house, connecting the interior spaces with the pastel tones of the exterior shutters. The result is a subtle rhythm where color is used sparingly but with intention, adding personality without overwhelming the calm atmosphere.
A Quiet Corner Beneath The Stairs
Within the open living spaces, smaller moments of comfort appear. Beneath the staircase, the designers created a seating area built from locally sourced marble.
Soft upholstered cushions transform the space into a relaxed nook that offers a place to sit, read, or pause within the flow of the house. It is a simple gesture that reflects the project’s approach of combining minimal architecture with moments of warmth.
Upstairs Spaces For Rest And Privacy
The upper level of the home is organized through an open hallway that connects the bedrooms and bathrooms. The layout keeps circulation simple and allows light to continue flowing through the upper floor.
In the bathroom, marble surfaces appear once again, reinforcing the material palette used throughout the home. A built-in shelving niche sits between the vanity and the mirror, providing practical storage while maintaining the clean visual lines of the space.
NOMO STUDIO created a house that frames selected views, brings sunlight into the center of the home, and introduces color in subtle moments.