BAT redesigns a 300-year-old farmhouse into a modern home with a two-level window

located in a rural area of the basque country, the 300-year-old ‘baserri’, a typical farmhouse for the local architecture, is divided into two dwellings, following the symmetrical axis. bilbao architecture team (BAT) intervenes in one of them maintaining the original identity of the house. 

all images © aitor estévez

BAT team mainly redesigned the day zone, where part of the ceiling was demolished to obtain a second-level space in the lounge. this new volume is reflected in the exterior with a large double height opening that breaks the traditional baserri scheme of the epoch: due to the structural role, traditionally the facades were mostly opaque. paradoxically, these hamlets were always built isolated in nature, but the opaque facades impeded the connection with the exterior. furthermore, the refurbishment of this zone has improved natural lighting as well as connected the inside directly to nature. 

the color palette of the finishes is done with bright materials to contrast with the original dark wooden structure and to gain light. contemporary comfort standards (leveled floors, new installations, improvement of the thermal isolation, etc.) are combined with traditional elements, such as stone structural walls, beams, and wooden frames in order to maintain original interior aesthetics.

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edited by: maria erman | designboom