arquitectura-g camouflages country house into its landscape outside barcelona

located on a 7,000 sqm piece of land outside santa margarida de montbui in spain, barcelona-based arquitectura-g completed a project comprised of refurbishing a country house into a single-family house. the plot was initially planned to become a building for agricultural uses but instead, has led to the construction of a dwelling that has a constant relationship with the environment, without disrupting the transition from the field outside and the interior.

the home includes a pool
all images © josé hevia

the challenges in which arquitectura-g were facing the limits and regulations of the already existing structure; the original building is considered a farmhouse, despite being just a hut with fiber cement roof and the proposal of modification to its volume and fenestrations were not allowed. the distinctive design factor is its visual impact; the intervention featuring a chromatic palette of earthy tones – nearly identical to the terracotta-colored landscape in which the site is based on. the materiality revolves around the idea of contrasts and this is evident in the structural elements. the load-bearing elements are rough, heavy and coarse, while the secondary elements and the interior partitions are completed in smoother and lighter finishings.

the load-bearing elements are seem by the rough, heavy and coarse materials chosen

‘the change of the functional program required to define the immediate environment of the house as a more limited and protected area in relation to the totally open plain. this is the reason why it was excavated 1 meter until reaching the height of the terrace which gives the main access to the house and facilitates the communication with the rest of the urbanization. in this way, the proposal defines a new artificial landscape, that is conceived as the main platform of interaction between the exterior and the interior.’

the interior features more smoother materials with the same color palette

the house is developed in its height as a succession of mezzanines of varying heights that rise up from the communal areas to the bedrooms and finishes on a balcony that faces out to the cereal fields. the functional programs of the dwelling is pronounced by the staggered platforms that are arranged around a central load-bearing core. this core, which serves as a large pillar is the location of the circulation and interconnects the living spaces.

the functional programs of the dwelling is pronounced by the staggered platforms

circulation is located at the core of the home

the load-bearing elements are marked by the rough and coarser finishing

the secondary elements and the interior partitions are finished smoother and lighter materials

the upper level living programs

the scheme initially had plans to become an agricultural building and was left state of ruin

the project was developed with a constant direct relationship with the environment

project info:

title: refurbishment of a country house in santa margarida de montbui, barcelona
designers: arquitectura-g (jonathan arnabat, jordi ayala-bril, aitor fuentes, igor urdampilleta)
location: barcelona (spain)
refurbished area:  200 sqm
year of design: 2015
year of completion: 2016

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save