Sunflower House’s quirky cube cluster soaks up the Mediterranean sun

Cadaval & Solà-Morales Architects completed the Sunflower House, a stunning modern home that’s as eye-catching as its Mediterranean seaside views.

The cliff-side house comprises a cluster of 10 cubes, each oriented towards a different view of Spain’s Costa Brava. The Sunflower House’s funky form isn’t just for looks—the geometric design is a creative solution to the site’s challenging conditions.

When the clients purchased the seaside plot, they expected that their future house would be “fully exposed” to the impressive views. However, a site analysis revealed several challenges: the plot is not only exposed to one of the peninsula’s strongest winds, but it also receives very little direct sun radiation. Cadaval & Solà-Morales Architects mitigated those challenges by shaping the house into a series of glass-faced cubes, each carefully angled to bring in views of the sea and the sun. “The house is also a big solar collector, a mechanism to bring light and heat into the house – like a giant sunflower,” wrote the architects.

Clad in textured white render, the two-story Sunflower House has five cubes on each level. The cubes’ floor-to-ceiling glazed end walls are built of a heavy-duty glass resistant to strong winds and salt spray. Like the facade, the contemporary interior features a simple and mostly white color palette. The communal areas are located on the first floor while the upper floor, accessible via a staircase in the double-height living room, contains the three double bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a guest room. The clients also have access to the outdoors via rooftop balconies, outdoor patio, and a small infinity pool.