A 120 m² home in Fuerteventura: avoiding wasted space and budget

Where to begin

Build the room programme around function and frequency of use, separating daily needs from occasional ones. A guest room can also serve as an office, gym or hobby room through flexible furniture and services. The strongest choice is the one that remains coherent when planning feasibility, architectural quality, future maintenance and the total budget are considered together.

Technical decisions

Avoid long corridors by using volumes and courtyards that bring light into central areas. Provide adequate service space because a larger home needs proportionate storage and technical management. The starting point is not selecting a catalogue solution. It is understanding how the subject relates to the plot, local rules and the way the home will actually be used.

Budget, timing and checks

Control the relationship between internal and external area so the building does not consume the entire plot. Group bathrooms and services without creating excessive distances between kitchen, utility and plant spaces. Across Fuerteventura, sunlight, wind, salt exposure, access and service availability vary considerably. A decision that looks sound in theory can become inefficient on the wrong plot.

How to reach a robust decision

Add a second living room only when it supports a real use rather than duplicating an adequate space. Estimate maintenance, furniture and energy for the additional area, not only its initial construction cost. A useful quotation states what is included, what is excluded and which assumptions have been made. A stand-alone figure without a design or plot assessment is only an early reference.

Mistakes to avoid

• Adding floor area simply because the plot appears large.
• Creating permanent guest rooms used only a few weeks a year.
• Forgetting that more area also means more furniture, cleaning and maintenance.