HOUSE RENOVATION IN SANT FELIU DE LLOBREGAT

PROJECT: HOUSE RENOVATION
SITE: SANT FELIU DE LLOBREGAT, BARCELONA
LOCATION: AVINGUDA LAUREÀ MIRÓ, 268
DATA PROJECT: 2014-2015
CONSTRUCTION: 2015-2016
BUILT AREA: 164 M²
AUTHORS: DATAAE
COLLABORATORS: ELISA FERRANDO
TEAM: MVA (STRUCTURE), ORIOL VIDAL ENGINEERS (BUILDING PHYSICS), RAÜL SEBASTIÁN (QUANTITY SURVEYOR)
BUILDER: ARCADI PLA S.A
IMAGE: ADRIÀ GOULA
AWARDS: 2017 CATALUNYA CONSTRUCCIÓ – FINALIST

THIS PROJECT INVOLVES THE REHABILITATION OF AN OLD AND SIMPLE HOUSE LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC CENTER OF SANT FELIU DE LLOBREGAT. THE INTERVENTION FOCUSES ON PRESERVING THE ORIGINAL COMPOSITION, VOLUME, AND STRUCTURE OF THE HOUSE WHILE SELECTIVELY DEMOLISHING THE INTERIOR PARTITIONS AND STAIRCASE TO CREATE A NEW LAYOUT THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE INHABITANTS, IMPROVES NATURAL LIGHT, AND ENHANCES THE BUILDING’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

THE NEW LAYOUT IS CHARACTERIZED BY OPEN SPACES WITH MINIMAL PARTITIONS, USING LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS AND PREDOMINANTLY WOOD MATERIALS. THE GROUND FLOOR IS DESIGNED AS A SINGLE OPEN-PLAN SPACE THAT ACCOMMODATES THE LIVING ROOM, DINING AREA, AND KITCHEN. BY PARTIALLY DEMOLISHING THE FLOOR SLAB, A DOUBLE-HEIGHT SPACE IS CREATED, ALLOWING FOR INCREASED CEILING HEIGHT AND NATURAL OVERHEAD LIGHTING. THIS INTERVENTION DOES NOT AFFECT THE STRUCTURE, AS ALMOST ALL THE ORIGINAL WOODEN BEAMS ARE PRESERVED. ON THE FIRST FLOOR, THERE IS A BEDROOM, A STUDY, A DRESSING AREA, AND A BATHROOM. ALL THE ROOMS ARE VENTILATED THROUGH THE FAÇADE AND THE DOUBLE-HEIGHT SPACE.

THE MATERIAL OBJECTIVE OF THE REHABILITATION IS TO PRESERVE AS MUCH OF THE EXISTING BUILDING SOLUTIONS AS POSSIBLE. ONLY ELEMENTS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ARE MODIFIED, WHILE ALL OTHER COMPONENTS ARE MAINTAINED, EVEN IF THEY HAVE DEFORMED OR ALTERED OVER TIME. THIS APPROACH CREATES A MATERIAL CONTRAST BETWEEN THE OLD AND THE NEW, AND BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL SOLUTIONS AND FINISHES VERSUS THE MODERN ONES, HIGHLIGHTING THE SIMPLICITY OF TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE.