Located at the entrance of the Parc Natural de Garraf, just outside the town of St Pere de Ribes, Can Tomeu House is one of the buildings belonging to the Masia Corral d’en Capdet, which was built around the year 1800 for agricultural and stone-crafting purposes. It is a piece of Catalan history and a national monument, meaning that the infrastructure needs to be kept in its original state wherever possible. Can Tomeu House was originally intended for the labor force of the larger Masia, which was responsible for the maintenance of the entire Finca. With time the abandoned building slowly deteriorated into ruin, leaving only its bearing walls.
The existing walls were reinforced with concrete on the inside, allowing them to return to their full original height, whilst showcasing the old façade on the outside. The new annex in contrast is built in a modern style. The mix of new and old fulfills the main goal of the project, which was to create a modern and futuristic style, whilst at the same time preserving the old Catalan infrastructure.
From a functional point of view, the entrance was moved to the old wine cellar, leading into the central room of the house with its astonishing double height. While the bedrooms are located to the left of this main room (two on the ground floor and one on the upper floor), to the right, the new annex holds the kitchen and living room. These two rooms, as one open space, form the new enhanced volume increase and open up to the exterior through big glass doors. The central room, the kitchen, and the living room have a full view of the Garraf National Parc allowing its guests to enjoy the Mediterranean countryside.
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The outside space, which was created between the annex and a longitudinal pond built above ground level, allows one to fully experience the vast expanse of the Garraf. The elevated pond also separates the building from the road and creates a visual barrier. This project has brought new life to the old Masia, showcasing its original infrastructure, whilst redesigning the interior spaces with clear and strong geometrical lines.
Building while promoting self-sufficient tourism by following the sustainability criteria necessary to preserve the rural environment; is aimed to make the architectural complex self-sufficient by reusing solar panels, fuel storage tanks, and rainwater by filtering it with a natural phyto-purification process.
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While can Tomeu House brings a new life to old masia and exhibits the original infrastructure of the building, the interior areas are redesigned with clear and strong geometric lines.
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NATURAL STONE :
WALLS : LOCAL STONE
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CREDITS
Architectural and Interior Design: Andrea Solé Arquitectura
Project Date: 2017
Total Construction Area: 144 sqm
Location: Sant Pere de Ribes, Spain
Photography: Adria Goula
