paco oria estudio transforms 100-year-old house into casa rocafull in valencia

paco oria estudio has revived an 100-year-old house in the old fisherman’s quarter of el cabanyal in valencia, transforming it into casa rocafull, a residence for a young couple and their twins. located on a rectangular, narrow and deep plot, the house sticks to the street, leaving a patio at the back, while it has retained its solid brick walls and wooden beams. focusing initially on strengthening the existing, handmade construction by dismantling and reinforcing it, the house was then reduced to a skeleton with an open interior, upon which the architects based the new, requested program.
inwards view from the backyard, connecting both façades

all images courtesy of paco oria estudio

recognizing the value of the existing house in its handmade execution and quality of well-selected and manufactured materials, paco oria estudio began the restoration by strengthening its building envelope, the horizontal structure, and the decks. ‘the house is for a young couple with twins,’ notes the valencia-based studio. ‘they are already living in this quarter, so they know the intrinsic aspects of the building that must be maintained. they know we need to solve the humidity issues and to promote cross ventilation. that we need the winter sun and that we will hide from the summer sun.’

materials engaging the inside and the outside

after reducing the house into a skeleton with an open interior, the studio focused on creating a fluid open space on the ground floor, and packing the first floor with the entire requested program. on ground floor, the project connects two opposite facades, from the street to the backyard, compressing its entire program aside, next to the stairs. thus, a single open space is built, which connects both exterior spaces, generating a visual path from the entrance to the backyard.
open kitchen, partially hidden

on first floor, the existing height is used to divide the spaces vertically, while a wooden mezzanine is created to increase the surface of the bedrooms. as a lookout post, a terrace overlooking the void formed by the rest of the backyards of the block has been rebuilt. in terms of materials, the architects have chosen the imperfection and apparent fragility of clay and wood. ‘at a time when imperfect materials are questioned, those that require concentration in their production and placement, that will require maintenance; it is decided to select them as a modest but sincere response to the place, and to the house itself,’ explains  paco oria estudio.wooden blinds for solar control in the backyard space

clay has been used on the walls, deck slabs and roof tiles, as well as for the pavements, which extend outside, impassive to borders. at the same time, windows, furniture and blinds are made of wood, as is the staircase and mezzanines. with all this, the intervention concentrates into manipulating the existing house house, allying itself with its memory and its way of being, with its textures and its relationship with the mediterranean light. ‘this manipulation tries to transform the house into an improved version of itself, taken further than expected, so that it lasts another long time, hoping that the rest of the neighborhood will also do it with those same values that define it,’ concludes the studio.

backyard facilities

in the kitchen bar, plywood panels allow fully integration

toilet window detail inside the kitchen

textures, light and continuity of materials unveil the essence of the intervention

staircase and entrance view

staircase detailview of the old restorated façade

urban scale

project info:

name: casa rocafull

architect: paco oria estudio

location: fisherman’s quarter, valencia, spain

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edited by: sofia lekka angelopoulou | designboom