Living right next to the ocean is a real pipe-dream of ours here at The Coolector and we’d very much gravitate towards something like B House in Cuba if it were left up to us. This stunning piece of architecture from Infraestudio has 366m² of living space but, quite frankly, it’s all about the mesmerising views that are afforded to it courtesy of its unparalleled position right next to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a breathtaking spot nestled along the cliffs just to the west of Cuba’s capital city, Havana.

Despite the client’s wanting a sizeable home in which to live, the architects were firmly of the option that had B House should use itself to hide in the landscape and maintain the characteristics of an existing old property that was on the plot already: with its 14m x 14m perimeter, gabled roof and portal on all four sides of the structure. The architects have done a fantastic job of blending old with new and really have made the most of those sensational sea views.

A holiday home that is predominantly used on the weekends, B House needs to serve as a retreat and relaxing spot for the owners to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday living. The home is completely open to the landscape in order to truly capitalise upon its privileged ocean-adjacent position, and has the possibility of being closed up and left once the users go back to the city and their regular day-to-day lives.

Two different types of architecture guided Infrastudion when developing this fantastic project in Cuba: namely, some aboriginal cabins from the West of Cuba, where the roof is also the room as everything else opens up; and the houses that are regularly used to dry tobacco, where palm wood covers the whole area. These rustic design features are used to inform the aesthetics of B House and it leaves it looking like it’s been there for years whilst also having a contemporary edge as well. Win, win.