2014. LEÓN

Two adjacent constructions located in small village in the North of Spain, an abandoned rural house and a hay storage barn, are reconstructed and connected to create a new contemporary rural house to serve as a weekend shelter for a family from Madrid. The design seeks to keep the original ambiance of the house, restoring the original constructive elements and materials , while providing the flexibility and commodity for a contemporary lifestyle.

The ground floor presents a solid and massive character, dominated by the heavyness of the stone walls and the continuity of the cement floor. It is conceived as an open and continous space where the cement floor defines and shapes the different elements of the plan, shaping the staircase, the kitchen furniture and long bench into a continuous element. On the upper floor, the atmosphere changes, as it is the place for the wood construction. There, the original timber structure of the roof is restored and exposed to express its beauty and set into a dialogue with new wooden elements painted in white that provide a flexible use of the space. 

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On the upper floor of the house, the original veranda and balcony  is closed and glazed providing a common playing area for the children rooms which are simply designed as small sleeping units. These rooms can be connected during the day with the playing area conforming a continuous space. Wooden panels provide shading control and flexible use of the veranda.

The upper floor of the barn is the most transformed space. The original roof is dismantled and substituted by a new roof profile  that enables having space for an extra floor. There, the main suite is located, presenting a big glazed facade towards a small square in front.