Living in the Arcade: Houses for two Brothers
28/01/2016.
By Paredes Pedrosa [Oropesa, Toledo] Spain
metalocus, CLAUDIA CENDOYA
metalocus, CLAUDIA CENDOYA
The restoration project by Paredes Pedrosa provides space for two houses - approximately 150 sqm each - by occupying empty spaces within the old structure. Both properties, belonging to two brothers, share a common longitudinal yard oriented towards the large brick arches. The restoration project has been very respectful with the former appearance and the previous materials, marking with a new light tone the new brick walls. Other aspects of the intervention consist in the increase in height of the ensemble and the creation of a new plinth in the base.
Description of the project by Paredes Pedrosa
Sitting in the foothills of the Sierra de Gredos in Spain, Oropesa commands an extensive view encompassing snow-capped peaks and olive trees. Oropesa is known for its castle, built in 1402 and formerly the residence of the Toledo family of nobles. One of them built an arcade to link the castle with Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Church, where the houses are placed incrusted in the ancient walls.
Initially, three very small houses divided into various small rooms in ruin, shared two patios behind a façade that was maintained unchanged for years, crossed by large brick arches. In the inside the houses lacked sufficient windows to cover lighting and ventilation. The project transforms the interior spaces into two houses, for brother and sister that share one single long patio, open in one side to the vision of the 16th Century church tower as a backdrop. The façade could not be modified, due to heritage protection, and the new patio orders the two constructions and gives natural light to both houses. One of them has also windows to the street and the other opens to a private small lateral garden.
Inside the houses, the ancient brick and stonewalls, built with the traditional local rigging, were painted in white, considering the reasonable use of existing materials. It was sought to preserve the natural texture of the materials in order to better integrate them with the surrounding textures. The new staircases were built with steel sheet. Also, the roofs were fully disassembled, restored and re-built one meter higher, maintaining the wooden structure, to create a space under the roof.
An existing window in the main façade was opened to the new patio and enables views towards the church. In the patio the old water well is maintained and both the pavement and the lower part of the damaged ancient walls, were covered with natural brick as the unique new material.
CREDITS. DATA SHEET.-
Architects.- Ángela García de Paredes, Ignacio Pedrosa.
Project team.- Álvaro Rábano, Clemens Eichner, Roberto Lebrero, Blanca Leal.
Technical control.- Inés Cobisa.
Structure.- Alfonso G. Gaite. GOGAITE, S.L.
Mechanical engineer.- Nieves Plaza .
Photography.- Luis Asín.
Location.- 1 & 3, Iglesia St. Oropesa, Toledo, Spain.
Dates.- 2011-2013 (project), 2013-2015 (construction).
Built surface.- 316 sqm (166 sqm house A, 150 sqm house B).
Courtyard's surface.- 13 sqm house A, 15 sqm house B.
Ángela García de Paredes (1958) and Ignacio García Pedrosa (1957) are architects by the Architecture School of Madrid, where they teach. Invited professors in other spanish and foreign universities for teaching, critics and speakers. In 1990 they founded Paredes Pedrosa Studio, after collaborating with José María García de Paredes for several years.
They are authors of, among other works, the Valdemaqueda Town Hall, Valle Inclán Theatre in Madrid, the Archaelogical Museum of Almería, Peñíscola Auditorium, La Olmeda Roman Ville, Ceuta Library or the Lugo Auditorium. Their work has been recognized with the 2007 Spanish Architecture National Award, ar+d Award, Europan II and IV, Europa Nostra, Madrid Architecture Award, Mansilla Award, Gold Medal International Prize for Sustainable Architecture, Mediterranean Sustaniable Architecture Award and 'Golden Medal for the Merit in Fine Arts' 2014, given by the Culture and Sports Spanish Ministery. Their work has been exhibited in many national and international architecture biennials.