Rascainfiernos

Seven meters below the bustling streets of Madrid lies a hidden marvel. It’s called Rascainfiernos, the “Hellscraper”. This unique home and studio of architect Fernando Higueras defies expectations. Rascainfiernos isn’t a towering skyscraper. Instead, it’s an inverted one, burrowed into the earth. In 1972, Higueras, a visionary architect known for his unconventional designs, began this project. He literally carved a 9×9 meter cube into his garden, creating his subterranean sanctuary. Rascainfiernos reflects Higueras’s belief that homes should feel like caves, primal and connected to the earth. The architect’s fascination with underground architecture is evident in other projects like “The City of Seagulls” in Lanzarote. Higueras, a man of many talents, also dabbled in music, painting, and photography. His architectural philosophy emphasized harmony with nature, a principle clearly demonstrated in Rascainfiernos. Despite being seven meters underground, Rascainfiernos is surprisingly bright and airy. A large, double-height skylight with four light wells illuminates the space with natural light. This overhead illumination, combined with the earth’s natural insulation, creates a comfortable temperature year-round, between 16 and 26 degrees Celsius. Lola Botia, Higueras’s partner for 20 years and now head of the Fernando Higueras Foundation, describes the unique experience of living in Rascainfiernos. She mentions the joy of watching snowflakes land on the skylight and the absence of the need for traditional windows. The four skylights provide views of the sky, trees, and birds. Rascainfiernos stands as a testament to Higueras’s innovative approach to architecture. This “Hellscraper” remains a pioneering example of sustainable living, conceived long before the concept became mainstream. It’s a hidden gem in Madrid, a unique blend of architecture and nature, waiting to be discovered.