Sinaldaba's Cecebre House in Galicia centers on crescent courtyard

Spanish architecture studio Sinaldaba has completed Cecebre House, a minimalist three-bedroom dwelling in the municipality of Cecebre, Galicia, Spain. The house is organized around a crescent-shaped courtyard that acts as a "domestic refuge," allowing year-round outdoor living while sheltering from prevailing winds. Founding partners Susana Vázquez and Ignacio Reigada explained that the design recovers principles of Galician rural architecture—compactness, climate response, precise siting—without replicating traditional forms. The courtyard, positioned on the southern edge, opens a large void in an otherwise windowless facade to avoid overheating. Inside, blockwork walls and concrete ceilings with exposed services create an industrial aesthetic softened by plywood carpentry. A concrete basement houses utility spaces, and a sheltered parking area sits beneath the elevated eastern end. The material palette was driven by a limited budget and a desire for dematerialization, avoiding literal historical references. Photography is by Luis Diaz Diaz.