CASA DEL SOL
REHABILITATION OF A TRADITIONAL HOUSE BETWEEN PARTY WALLS
We have rehabilitated this traditional village house from the beginning of the 20th century, preserving its traditional Mediterranean character and adapting it to the needs of a modern family. An intervention in which the composition, volumetry and original structure of the house are preserved, emphasising the existing materials.
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It is a comprehensive refurbishment that respects the house where art, design and crafts are mixed, and which is always committed to creating environments with natural light. The first sketches and infographics reflect these intentions.
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In terms of sustainability, the rehabilitation process improved the walls & ceilings with acoustic and thermal insulation to achieve great comfort and save energy.
After eliminating the partitions and the false ceiling, a spacious and bright day area was gained. This diaphanous space has more height and more natural light coming from both façades and from the new skylight.
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• A MEDITERRANEAN HOUSE / A HOUSE WITH MEDITERRANEAN CHARACTER
The previous state was a fragmented house, where part of the original materials were hidden, the ceiling concealed the original height of the house and the walls concealed the brick wall.
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We rescued a large part of the pre-existing elements: the aim was to simplify the façade and bring back some of the original elements. The materials were partially uncovered in the interior brick wall, the wooden structure and on the outdoor brick walls of the patio.
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On the ground floor, the spaces of the living room, kitchen, dining room and patio are connected. On the first floor, the inclination of the ceiling was maintained to gain a greater sense of higher space. This floor was divided into the master bedroom with an ensuite, a bathroom and another spare room. This room can be converted into two if an extra room is needed in the future.
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• VISUAL AXIS
The axis of the proposal for the new distribution was based on maximising space and light in the house. On the one hand, the original height available until the roof was used, generating a double-height space in the living room. On the other hand, the continuous visual was achieved from both sides of the house. The continuous view towards the patio provided more space and blurs the boundary between outside and inside.
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• PATIO
The old inner courtyard was a narrow, dark and residual space surrounded by different constructions. All these constructions were demolished to improve the lighting in the house and gain an outdoor space on the ground floor.
The inner courtyard is now the heart of the house, the point where the house expands. It is an outdoor space connected to the kitchen that allows to be used as an outdoor dining room almost all year round. A small porch was built to increase the covered area and to gain flexibility of this space.
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The floor is covered with the same ceramic tile used inside the house to enhance continuity..
The white walls reflect light in order to increase luminosity. The uncovered brick walls add warmth and bring the traditional character to this space.
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• DOUBLE HEIGHT
By demolishing part of the slab, a double height space was wrapped by natural light coming from the new skylight. The structural elements are light in this space and the original wooden beams are visible.
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The new staircase is located in this space as the central nucleus of the house. This area is defined in order to be a volume integrated into the restoration. A wooden wall has been designed under the stairs to provide a storage area and also hides a toilet. In order to protect the staircase, a simple black iron was designed with clear lines and refined details.
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• MATERIALS
One of the starting criteria was to preserve the existing materials in the original space and maintain the spirit of the traditional architecture of the area. The protagonists in the house are the original bricks that surrounds the space and that stands out thanks to the built-in indirect lighting and the wooden beams. The chosen new materials harmonise with the original materials.
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The kitchen opens up completely to the patio with a design of pure forms. The colour black predominates, adding elegance to this space.
The combination of black and warm light create a cosy and sophisticated atmosphere.
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• FAÇADE. the value what is already in place
A house with a façade on two streets that allows a double opening and connection on to the street. Moreover, the advantages of this double façade is the possibility of cross ventilation and double pedestrian entrance.
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The exterior walls of the façades were rehabilitated to show the materials. This original material was partially uncovered and the traditional brick wall was treated as one the main component element.
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After the intervention, the contrast between old and modern elements is noticeable. The main idea to restore this traditional house was always to preserve the value of the existing and bringing back the simplicity of the traditional architecture of the area.
