A steep hillside overlooking the Mediterranean might seem like a challenge, but in Mar Azul it became the starting point for something remarkable. Positioned above Portitxol Bay in Jávea, within Comunidad Valenciana, the plot descends sharply toward the southeast, framed by Portitxol island to the north and Punta del Cap Negre to the south.
Rather than flattening or fighting the terrain, Pepe Giner Arquitectos allowed the slope, orientation and geometry of the site to dictate the design. The result is a home that feels inseparable from its landscape, shaped by it at every level and open to the best views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Shaped by Orientation, Geometry and Terrain
The project is rooted in adaptation. The steep topography directly informed the volumetry of the house, turning what could have been a limitation into the defining characteristic of its architectural form. The day area, including the terrace and swimming pool, is elevated onto the same upper level to fully benefit from the south orientation and sweeping sea views.
The house is conceived as a series of sinuous platforms that slide between one another, following the natural descent of the land in a staggered formation. These horizontal layers create a sculptural profile along the southeast facade, where their free projections stand out against the Mediterranean horizon. The rugged terrain does not disappear beneath the building but instead shapes its identity.
Structurally, the house balances weight and lightness. Dry stone walls anchor the project firmly into the hillside, containing and stabilising the terrain, while slender metal pillars support the projecting platforms. This dual system creates a clear contrast between grounded solidity and the apparent levitation of the horizontal planes.
Terraces That Stretch Toward the Horizon
Terraces wrap continuously around the glass envelope on each floor, softening the boundary between interior and exterior spaces. On the ground level, the central portion of the platform widens to form a generous terrace, then narrows toward the edges in response to the surrounding conditions.
The terrace visually detaches from the immediate landscape and aligns with the horizon through a sinuous swimming pool that appears to extend toward the sea. The water surface blends with the Mediterranean beyond, reinforcing the home’s strong relationship with its southeast orientation.
A Mediterranean garden is integrated into the terrace as a continuation of the architecture itself. Cypress trees are positioned so that they pass through perforations in the platforms, transforming vegetation into an architectural element and further emphasizing the strong horizontality of the design.
Framing the Mediterranean at Every Turn
The living room benefits from the continuous terraces and expansive glazing that surround the home. These elements ensure that the Mediterranean remains a constant visual presence, reinforcing the connection between interior life and the coastal landscape.
By elevating the main day area, the design guarantees open views toward the southeast, allowing the sea and horizon to shape the daily experience within the space.
A Double Height Arrival and a Marble Centerpiece
Access to the house is arranged beside a dramatic double height space that contains the vertical communication core. This spatial moment immediately establishes a sense of openness and vertical connection within an otherwise horizontally expressed architecture.
At the center of this space stands a sculptural staircase crafted from black Marquina marble. Visible from numerous points throughout the house, it becomes a focal element that articulates circulation while introducing material richness and visual contrast.
Private Viewpoints Above Portitxol Bay
The upper floor accommodates the entrance hall and three bedrooms, each with its own terrace. These private spaces open outward as viewpoints toward the sea, maintaining the same relationship with landscape and orientation established in the communal areas.
From these terraces, the Mediterranean becomes part of the everyday experience, extending the home’s dialogue with its setting into the most intimate rooms.
Take a Closer Look
In video, the layered composition of sliding platforms becomes even more apparent. As perspectives shift, the interplay between terraces, pool, stone walls and sea reveals how carefully the house has been shaped by its steep southeast facing site.
Understanding the House
The site plan and floor plans illustrate the staggered arrangement of platforms and confirm the strategic elevation of the day area, terrace and pool on the same upper level, ensuring uninterrupted views toward the Mediterranean.
By responding directly to orientation, geometry and terrain, Pepe Giner Arquitectos created a home that feels both anchored to the hillside and projected toward the sea.