Stand on the upper terrace on a Saturday morning and you can already smell the pine resin warming in the sun. The hills of the Garraf Natural Park roll out ahead of you, all limestone ridges and dark green forest, and somewhere below, just five minutes down the road, Sitges is waking up for the weekend. That particular combination — raw nature on one side, one of Catalonia's most vivid coastal towns on the other — is what makes Mas Alba genuinely hard to leave.
This is a completed new build in the truest sense: not an off-plan promise but a finished, move-in-ready home with every system tested, every material chosen with intent. Three hundred square metres of living space sit on a 750-square-metre plot, and from the moment you walk through the custom solid-wood entrance door, the architecture earns your attention. Natural wood and raw concrete don't always get along, but here they do — warm grain against cool grey, neither element showing off. The ceilings are high enough that even with five people in the kitchen you don't feel crowded.
The kitchen is genuinely the centre of this house. Open-plan, fully equipped, flooded with light from floor-to-ceiling glazing — it's where morning coffee happens and where dinner guests eventually end up, regardless of where the evening started. The island becomes a gathering point almost automatically. From where you stand at the counter you can watch the sun track across the garden, see the saltwater pool catching light in the afternoon, and keep an eye on whatever is happening on the terrace.
Two living rooms give the house a flexibility that single-storey layouts rarely manage. One on each floor. The upper lounge can be closed off entirely and converted into the fifth bedroom — useful if you have frequent guests, or if you're thinking about future rental income. In practice, most families use it as a media room or a quiet work-from-home space during the week. The master suite takes a generous chunk of the ground floor: dressing room, bathroom with both a freestanding bathtub and a separate shower, and direct access to a private landscaped patio that feels genuinely secluded.
The 8-by-3-metre infinity pool is saltwater, which means no harsh chlorine smell, no irritated eyes after an afternoon swim. It integrates into the Mediterranean garden at an angle that makes it look like it always belonged there — shaded areas around the edges, drought-resistant planting, the whole thing designed to read as an extension of the surrounding Garraf forest rather than something dropped in from a catalogue. Rainwater collection, greywater recycling and discreetly placed solar panels handle much of what the garden needs. This isn't eco-theatre; these systems are practical and they work.
The energy certification tells its own story. An A rating here — genuinely rare in the Spanish residential market — comes from 12 centimetres of natural wool insulation on interior walls, 10 centimetres on exterior walls, and radiant underfloor heating and cooling driven by aerothermal technology. No gas connections, no boiler to service. The Sonos system is integrated throughout, which is either a selling point or background detail depending on how seriously you take your music.
Sitges is five minutes by car — close enough to walk into for dinner along the Passeig de la Ribera, far enough that you don't hear the Saturday-night noise from your bedroom. The town's carnival in February is one of the most genuinely joyful street events in Spain, and its LGBTQ+ scene gives it a social energy that most Costa Dorada towns simply don't have. The old quarter, perched on a headland between two beaches, has good restaurants at every price point: try Bar Trinquet on Carrer del Pecat for vermouth and anchovies, or book a table at El Pou for proper Catalan cooking — rabbit with romesco, salt cod with honey and pine nuts.
Barcelona is forty minutes on the C2 train from Sitges station, which means you have a genuine city on your doorstep without living inside one. El Prat airport sits about thirty-five minutes from Mas Alba by car, making weekend arrivals straightforward even from northern Europe. Several well-regarded international schools operate within the greater metropolitan area — the British School of Barcelona in Castelldefels, Hamelin-Laie International School, and the American School of Barcelona in Esplugues are all within reasonable reach, which matters if you're planning extended stays or a full relocation.
The Garraf Natural Park itself is under-explored by most visitors. The GR-92 coastal trail passes nearby, and there are shorter circular routes through the pine and carob scrubland that take between two and four hours. In late spring the wildflowers are remarkable — particularly around the cliffs above Aiguadolç. The coast here alternates between broad sandy beaches — Sitges has nine of them — and rockier coves that you essentially have to yourself outside of July and August.
Climate-wise, you're in classic Mediterranean territory: hot dry summers rarely exceed 32°C, winters are mild enough that the pool can be used into November with the heating on, and spring arrives early. Autumn is arguably the best season — the crowds thin, the sea temperature stays high, and the light over the hills in the late afternoon takes on a quality that photographers chase for a reason.
For international buyers, Spain's legal framework for property purchase is well-established, and Catalonia specifically has a well-documented land registry process. Non-residents should take qualified advice on the implications of the non-resident income tax (IRNR) if the property won't be primary residence, and on the most efficient ownership structure — personal purchase, Spanish SL, or EU holding company — depending on your situation. Rental income potential in this corridor is strong: Sitges commands premium short-stay rates year-round, and a property at this specification, with pool and energy credentials, sits at the top of the rental market. A 10-year structural warranty comes with the home, and all documentation is in order.
Key features at a glance:
- 300m² new build house on a 750m² plot, move-in ready with full documentation
- 5 bedrooms (4 fixed plus convertible upper lounge), 3 bathrooms
- Energy Rating A — natural wool insulation, aerothermal underfloor heating and cooling
- 8×3m saltwater infinity pool integrated into Mediterranean-style landscaped garden
- Rainwater collection, greywater recycling, discreetly integrated solar panels
- Floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings, natural cross-ventilation throughout
- Open-plan fully equipped kitchen as central living hub
- Master suite with dressing room, freestanding bath, shower and private patio
- Integrated Sonos sound system, custom solid-wood entrance door
- Independent office and separate laundry/utility room
- 5 minutes by car to Sitges, 40 minutes to Barcelona city centre, 35 minutes to El Prat airport
- Walking distance to Garraf Natural Park trails
- Strong short-term rental income potential in one of Catalonia's most sought-after coastal corridors
- 10-year structural warranty included
If you want to understand what life in this house actually looks and feels like, the best thing to do is see it in person — on a clear morning, from that upper terrace, with the park ahead and Sitges just down the hill. Reach out through Homestra to arrange a private viewing, and one of our local team will make sure you have the full picture before you make your decision.
