Renovation traditional of a rural stone building. Can Castellnou by Acabadomate
08/06/2020.
[Vilamitjana del Cantó del Cantó - Lérida] Spain
metalocus, VALERIA OZUNA
metalocus, VALERIA OZUNA
Acabadomate architecture studio has completed a farmhouse renovation project on the outskirts of Vilamitijana del Cantó. This building typology is defined as a type of rural construction, existing throughout the east of the Iberian peninsula and southern France, which has its origins in the ancient Roman villas.
The project, located on the boundaries of Vilamitjana del Cantó in Lérida, Spain, focuses on the renovation of the main body and of the exterior spaces that surround the farmhouse, where the general volume and its facade remain almost intact.
The project, located on the boundaries of Vilamitjana del Cantó in Lérida, Spain, focuses on the renovation of the main body and of the exterior spaces that surround the farmhouse, where the general volume and its facade remain almost intact.
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Can Castellnou by Acabadomate. Photograph by Marcela Grassi
Floor plans. Can Castellnou by Acabadomate
Elevations and sections. Can Castellnou by Acabadomate
The 200m² renovation developed by Acabadomate maintains a minimum intervention criterion on the façade so as not to alter the rural nature of the construction, which is why the intervention acts more incisively inside the volume, to provide the space with spaciousness and comfort.
The interior works to create a diaphanous environment, increasing light and natural ventilation, thanks to the recovery of gaps to frame the privileged views towards the region of l'Alt Urgell, in the province of Lleida.
The interior works to create a diaphanous environment, increasing light and natural ventilation, thanks to the recovery of gaps to frame the privileged views towards the region of l'Alt Urgell, in the province of Lleida.
Project description by Acabadomate
Outside of Vilamitijana del Cantó, in the region of l'Alt Urgell, there is this old and simple cataloged farmhouse, which was abandoned before the project began.
The Pepi had left the region many years ago and the project commission comes to us from her two children, Carles and Rosa, who decide to return to the house their use of housing for weekends and family gatherings.
The ground floor, divided into the dining room, kitchen and three bedrooms, was the main core of the house; the lower deck, connected to a small hatch in the floor, was used to store food and the basement as a cellar.
To complete the property, along with the compact and isolated main body, a series of annexes in a state of advanced deterioration were used as haystacks and pens for animals.
The project focuses on the rehabilitation of the main body and of the exterior spaces that surround it, maintaining a minimum intervention criterion on the façade so as not to alter the rural nature of the construction and intervening more incisively in the interior to provide the space with spaciousness and comfort.
The volumetry remains intact, windows are opened taking advantage of old walled holes and new ones are created to frame the views towards the mountains and increase light and natural ventilation. Improvements are made to the building envelope by replacing the roof, which uses pieces of rustic slate as used to be done in the area and double-glazed woodwork.
Inside, the entrance partitions are demolished to create an open space between the living/dining room and the kitchen. The wall and wood partition that divided the day area from the bedrooms is maintained, reducing the bedrooms latter to a double one, and creating a new bathroom.
One of the original rooms opens to the entrance and is connected by one to the lower deck: what was previously an environment with difficult access and in very poor condition, now becomes a space with two double bedrooms, a bathroom, and an area which converts a reading room in a guest room. The window openings through the landscape and the skylights on the roof complete the intervention, flooding the originally dark space with light.
For the connection to the basement, the existing hole is used, but the staircase is redrawn with wooden steps and an iron bar railing. The plant remains in its original layout, but the stone walls and wooden ceilings are thoroughly cleaned with a black coat that covers them. A new lime concrete screed unifies and defines the blurred levels with the passage of time and deterioration.
Original construction systems are recovered, and new materials are added to dialogue harmoniously with the existing ones: oak wood for the floor of the two main floors; lime for the walls; green slate for kitchen and bathroom flooring; wood and iron for stairs and railings.
White predominates on the walls in contrast to the stone walls, the wooden beams for the roof and the floor slabs, and the exterior carpentry, which, with their almost black, dark color, is well integrated into the facade, which is practically intact compared to the original state. The kitchen and bathroom furniture had been made by a local carpenter.
Outside, the sheds are demolished and their stones are used to build perimeter walls. A gravel pavement and three trees complete the space, voluntarily leaving the property open, without limits towards the street, and providing it with a wonderful terrace towards the landscape.
More information
Architects
Collaborators
Quantity Surveyor.-Jordi Pujol Preciado. MEP.- Instal.lacions Vilana S.L. Interior carpentry.- Josep Porta Terres.
Builder
A.f.p.e.
Area
200m².
Dates
2017 - 2019.
Manufacturers
Exterior carpentry.- Carinbisa. Luminaires.- La Variété, Zangra. Furniture.- Lufe.
Location
Vilamitjana del Cantó, Lérida, Spain.
Photography
Alessandra Faraone, Valeria Merola. ACABADOMATE
ACABADOMATE is an architecture and interior design studio based in Barcelona, formed by Alessandra Faraone and Valeria Merola, two Italian architects who, at the end of their studies in Naples, established their personal and professional lives in Catalonia.
Its main objective is to improve the quality of people's living spaces, promoting dialogue between existing/new, natural/artificial in respect, care, and collaboration with the end-user. The starting point in each project, regardless of its scale, is the search for the “genetic code” of the environment, both built and natural and human. They perfected their training with the Postgraduate course in "Architectural Rehabilitation and Restoration. From the structural constructive analysis to the intervention project in the context of the CTE" at the UPC in Barcelona.
They opted for re-use rather than demolition and reconstruction. Their interventions try to generate spaces that are both functional and emotional, without imposing themselves as icons but presenting themselves as subtle, almost silent operations in the dialogue with the identity of the place and with the expectations that its users project on it.
Alessandra Faraone was born in Naples in 1977. Graduated in 2000 from Naples Faculty of Architecture of the Universitá Federico II. She completed the postgraduate course in "Architectural Rehabilitation and Restoration. From 2001 to 2004 he collaborated with MBM Arquitectes. In 2006 she associated with Federico Calabrese and Marc Tomás forming fondaRIUS architecture. In 2011 she began an intense collaboration with Valeria Merola, with which she associates in late 2012 to found ACABADOMATE.
Valeria Merola was born in Rome in 1979. Graduated in 2004 from the Faculty of Architecture of Naples of the Universitá Federico II. She completed the postgraduate course in "Architectural Rehabilitation and Restoration. She has collaborated with the _Scape studios in Rome and Paris; B720 and Rba arquitectes in Barcelona. In 2010 she began his activity independently between Catalonia and Italy and in 2012 she founded with Alessandra Faraone ACABADOMATE.
Its main objective is to improve the quality of people's living spaces, promoting dialogue between existing/new, natural/artificial in respect, care, and collaboration with the end-user. The starting point in each project, regardless of its scale, is the search for the “genetic code” of the environment, both built and natural and human. They perfected their training with the Postgraduate course in "Architectural Rehabilitation and Restoration. From the structural constructive analysis to the intervention project in the context of the CTE" at the UPC in Barcelona.
They opted for re-use rather than demolition and reconstruction. Their interventions try to generate spaces that are both functional and emotional, without imposing themselves as icons but presenting themselves as subtle, almost silent operations in the dialogue with the identity of the place and with the expectations that its users project on it.
Alessandra Faraone was born in Naples in 1977. Graduated in 2000 from Naples Faculty of Architecture of the Universitá Federico II. She completed the postgraduate course in "Architectural Rehabilitation and Restoration. From 2001 to 2004 he collaborated with MBM Arquitectes. In 2006 she associated with Federico Calabrese and Marc Tomás forming fondaRIUS architecture. In 2011 she began an intense collaboration with Valeria Merola, with which she associates in late 2012 to found ACABADOMATE.
Valeria Merola was born in Rome in 1979. Graduated in 2004 from the Faculty of Architecture of Naples of the Universitá Federico II. She completed the postgraduate course in "Architectural Rehabilitation and Restoration. She has collaborated with the _Scape studios in Rome and Paris; B720 and Rba arquitectes in Barcelona. In 2010 she began his activity independently between Catalonia and Italy and in 2012 she founded with Alessandra Faraone ACABADOMATE.
