Casa Biaix
Casa Biaix is located along the Aubareda Path, a trail that winds its way through seas of wheat, canola fields and Mediterranean forests. It stands atop a small hill between a pine forest and an olive grove, and just a few meters from one of Barcelona’s oldest holm oaks.
The design preserves the historic outer shape of the masia while introducing a new formal and material logic within. It frames views of the regenerating landscape, partially transformed by a recent forest fire.
An austere materiality of lime mortar is applied throughout the project, a reintroduced material that was traditionally used in rural houses. The local limestone, characteristic of the interior of Catalonia, drives the color palette of the design.
The daytime program on the ground floor is organized to enhance visual connections with a landscape that changes throughout the seasons. On the upper floor, the rooms are arranged along a diagonal corridor that shapes the distinctive interior geometry. That oblique form is used to optimize the server space and to fit an extra room for the family.
The adjacent annex is converted into a new living space, connected to the main house by a new spiral staircase. The rear façade is opened up, making the house fully accessible and exposed to the four winds.
