Architect: Laura Álvarez Architecture
Style: Contemporary ·
Country: Spain
Every so often, a ruin gets a second life that is better than its first. Here, a stone shed on a hill in Cantabria’s Pasiego valleys has become a two-bedroom retreat, built in the spirit of the region’s old peasant cabins.
The design is pleasantly restrained. Two large windows face opposite ways across the living room, one towards the valley and one towards the mountains, so the view does most of the decorating. Both bedrooms have their own bathroom, and the interiors stay light and quiet.
Much of the stone and timber comes from the old shed or from the surrounding region, which is why the house looks as though it has always belonged there. It is also built to be energy-efficient, though you are more likely to notice the silence.
A good address for anyone who likes their architecture understated.
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