An inspired renovation of a traditional farmhouse by Pablo Muñoz Payá Arquitectos
At home in nature! We’re travelling to Alicante to visit a country home that is truly inspired: “Renovation for Alejandro and Inma” by Pablo Muñoz Payá Arquitectos.The project consisted of the renovation of a traditional Mediterranean farmhouse, scrupulously respecting the rural architecture of the region while adding warmth and sunlight to the home.
Preserving the surrounding olive grove and the original farmhouse were key aspects of the project. The owners wanted to “live in the country” in a modern and sophisticated home that respected the spirit of the original farmhouse while giving greater natural light.
Building codes did not allow the footprint of the building to be enlarged, and so the designers, without modifying the perimeter of the original structure, opened the walls to create a new sensation of light and space. This created a large luminous space inside the home with a vast picture window opening onto the living room, dining room and kitchen area.
As a solution to the low ceilings of the old farmhouse, the designers decided to create a sunken living room, adding three steps and so greatly increasing the height of the space. An elegant way to reorganise the space and create clear lines between kitchen and dining room.
For the ceiling, the roof allowed for the existing false ceiling to be extended with new wood panelling, rising exponentially to the top with triangular planes. The effect is to double the amount of natural light, giving the look and feel of a modern sophisticated home.
Facing the cosy sunken living room is the raised eternity pool, with constantly flowing water like an eternal fountain. Surrounding the pool are a series of elegant platforms reaching a curtain of flowing water, giving a feel of timeless serenity to the exterior space. Also around the pool the existing outdoor buildings were restored, oriented around a new central porch.
Fine, all-natural materials
The use of fine, all-natural materials (oak, dry stone and eco-friendly Hisbalit mosaic tiles) allows the building to blend into the natural surroundings. An inspired way to respect traditional architecture while making the home more luminous and comfortable.
The natural oak panelling in the interior and in the kitchen gives warmth to the home, unifying the colour tones of the central space and created a comfortable feeling of balance and harmony.
Dry stone walls, created using the traditional rubble stone technique, were used on sections of the building façade and the pool, harmoniously integrating the home into the surroundings.
Eco-friendly mosaic tile was another of the natural materials used in the project, manufactured entirely in Spain using recycled glass and all-natural pigments.
A pool that highlights the natural effect of the water!
The designers selected the innovative Deep Hisbalit collection to create the eternity pool, beautifully integrated into the environment. This collection is characterised by its dark, intense colours that give a look of sobriety and elegance, highlighting the natural effect of the water.
Hisbalit’s TEIDE mosaic tile in black was used for the pool basin to produce a “mirror effect”, reflecting the landscape surrounding the pool. A unique and striking finish!
PROJECT: Pablo Muñoz Payá Arquitectos Proyectos
BUILDER: Sisplayes, C.B
PHOTOGRAPHS: David Zarzoso