The Moat House

The Moat House: Community of Madrid

Designed by a renowned Spanish architect, this exceptional house is breathtaking at every turn. Wraparound glass walls fill the rooms with natural light and make them feel outdoor. The house is surrounded by a shallow infinity moat, which refracts the sun and creates a dance of light and shadow in the house. 10 metre sliding glass doors in the living area open out onto lush gardens and a swimming pool spanning the width of the house, where you can happily swim lengths or cool off on summer days. The sleek white kitchen with its floating countertops is well equipped for cooking up family style meals, and on warm days fire up the barbecue to enjoy lunch alfresco beneath the pergola, with its dining table that seats twelve. Three of the bedrooms have form-fitting waterbeds, and lead out onto peaceful balconies.

Start the day by working up a sweat in the gym before enjoying a coffee on your bedroom’s balcony. On cosy evenings pick out a book from the library or settle down in the cinema room for a movie. But on warm summer nights you’ll want to be outside. Sunset here is a surreal experience, and should be enjoyed on the terrace with a cocktail in hand. As the sky turns pink, the glass exterior of the house and the moat reflect the light, bathing inside and out in a golden glow.

The house is in an affluent gated community on the edge of a national park, and there are some picturesque hiking trails nearby. When city life beckons, the centre of Madrid is just a thirty-five minute drive away. After a day of sightseeing, you’ll love returning home to the tranquil beauty of your private paradise, and enjoying dinner together as the stars come out.

Home truths:
*There is parking space for up to five cars on premises
*At full occupancy, two people will be sleeping on a sofa bed in the main bedroom, and one person on a sofa bed in the living area
*This is a lived-in home, so expect for some of the host's personal belongings to be present
*The pool is open from May to September
*There are lots of valuable and fragile items in this home, as well as an unfenced pool, so children should be supervised at all times
*This house is set across three floors with internal stairs
*There's a dedicated office and super fast wi-fi if you need to catch up on some work