Ca Marcelo

A family building that originally dates on XVII-XVIII centuries and which had suffered several interventions. The floor plan was used for many years as a blacksmith workshop, what gives to the building a special character. The time going by and the lack of maintenance have caused that the building presented a bad state of preservation, what means that otherwise repaired, it could be degraded in a short period of time.

 

It is projected a rehabilitation in several phases, starting by the roof, continuing to facades and terrace, and ending by the indoors, with the will of renovating the building respecting its antiquity and its character.

 

The building was characterized by having a messy interior, very compartmentalized and without any order with the vertical communication stairs. On this matter, the intervention prioritize the order, in the interior and facade. Stairs are joined in a communication space located in one side of the building, which benefits the reorganization of the rest of spaces and gives more entity and more light to the hall in each plan. 

 

In facade, the openings are regularized, always maintaining those distinguishing elements, as balconies, wrought iron railing, iron pieces which were used to change horseshoes, or the stone in the building corner, which had the function of separating the carriages sufficiently when turning.

 

The floor plan is rehabilitated maintaining those elements that remind it was a blacksmith workshop. On this matter, the hall and the multipurpose space are separated by an antique wrought iron door, which was originally located on the facade of the building.  On this floor are also kept the old walls without any facing, leaving in sight the traces that time and the different interventions have manifested on the walls and in the structure.

 

First floor, second floor and the rooftop are unified to create an illuminated and comfortable home, arranging the resulting spaces from rehabilitation and improving the windows locations on existing facades. First plan includes the main rooms for the family members, the second floor is arranged by a large day space and in the last floor there is the study space, the laundry room, a pair of rooms and the terrace.

 

The result is a comfortable and contemporary house, spatially well organized, without resigning from its historical character.

Site

Initial state plans

Initial state elevations

Initial state section

Final state plans

Final state facades

Final state section

Conceptual axonometry

Initial images

location : Vila-Seca

promoter : Private

architect : Guillem Carrera

structure : Francesc Gorgas, Windmill Structural Consultants SLP

collaborators : Eva Crespo, Meritxell Anglès, Xavier Foraste, Daniel Marcelo, T80 Arquitectura Tècnica

constructor : Construccions Plana, Construcciones Andrés Cintas SLU, Baumester SL

subcontract : Oleguer Roigé Instal·lacions, Florentin Ebanistas SL, Luxiform Il·luminació SL

project's year : 2006 (phase 1), 2009 (phase 2), 2018 (phase 3)

end of construction : 2020

surface : 363 m2

photograph : Filippo Poli

publications : Abitare, AECCaféArchdailyArchelloArchidiariesArchiloversArchiportaleArchitecture Masterprize 2021ArchitizerArqaArquineConcept 252Concept 264DivisareEko KucaFundacion ArquiaHome AdoreHouzzInteriores MinimalistasMetalocusPlatform Architecture and DesignPlataforma ArquitecturaRethinking the FutureVía ConstruccionXII Biennal Alejandro de la SotaXXI Magazine

awards and recognitions : Architecture Masterprize 2021 Winner, Best Project Archilovers 2021 Award, Eduwik Architecture Excellence Awards 2022 Second Award