CASAS REAIS. Apartment in Santiago de Compostela
LIGHTING UP SPACES. The existing house, a collection of small and dark rooms, is revealed as one single space full of light. On one side, the house extends to the gallery facing north, embracing the sun light and the views of the old town. On the other side, the small existing openings located on the thick stone walls are perceived as a whole, creating a space with pleasant and changing brightness throughout the day.
DENSIFYING THE SPACE. The house is designed as a collection of spaces with specific character, laid out in a continuous way to benefit from the different sources of light. The rooms are defined by spatial articulations and expansions achieved through furniture design, which give density and depth to the space. The oblique stone wall, with its lime mortar texture, connects the living room, kitchen and bedroom in a sequence of spaces. The new piece of furniture, smooth and satin finished, organizes the living room, entrance, dressing and study room sequence.
OBJECTS TROUVES. Three existing pieces act as objects trouvés interacting with the new elements and giving to the dwelling its own character. The lareira, traditional Galician stone fire-place, turns into a resting place in the study room. The original kitchen´s hydraulic tiles are rearranged creating a tapestry which extends throughout the new space in the kitchen. The wooden gallery is integrated in the interior space through the new woodwork, which serves as a filter between the indoor and outdoor environments.
