Nestled amid the tranquil landscapes of the Riaza Mountains in Segovia, Spain, lies a project that marries the whispers of history with the promise of modernity. Emptied House by Estudio Veintidós stands as an eloquent testament to the transformational power of architecture, where a former rural stable has been elegantly reborn as a seasonal sanctuary.
The original structure, a solemn witness to the passage of time, was a humble stone and rammed earth edifice, its roof long fallen and its interior partitions succumbing to ruin. The architects, rather than reconstructing its bygone volume, chose a path of creative restraint. Retaining the venerable perimeter walls, they embarked on a journey of subtraction and consolidation, selectively adding where necessity dictated.
At the heart of this architectural metamorphosis lies a central void, a courtyard that breathes life into the dwelling. This open space, sculpted by the removal of the interior's remnants, serves as the soul of the home. It orchestrates daily life, ensuring that daylight filters through, ventilation is abundant, and a connection with the outdoors is ever-present.
A testament to the architects' sensitivity to the site’s history, a small longitudinal pool traces the ghostly outline of a former water trough. This element, beyond its visual appeal, plays a vital role as a microclimatic moderator, balancing temperature and humidity while reinforcing the dwelling's seasonal character.
Surrounding the courtyard, three gabled pavilions rise, their forms reminiscent of the area's vernacular architecture. Skylights subtly weave these volumes together, guiding the eye and soul toward the heavens. Accessed through an open-air passage from the street, the first pavilion houses the living spaces, inviting occupants into a world where past and present dance in harmony.
The new architecture gracefully alights atop the ancient walls, crafting varied setbacks that reveal the home's internal rhythms. Each pavilion culminates in a skylight, tethering the under-roof spaces to the sky, while a striking hollow tower emerges as a vantage point over the surrounding landscape. This vertical gesture pays homage to the nearby Romanesque church, establishing a visual dialogue with the village's historical fabric.
Within this serene refuge, circulation is a dance of permeability. A thoughtful ambulatory encircles the courtyard, its large-format joinery distributing access to the rooms and, through retractable staircases, to the attic spaces above. The living area, a sanctuary within a sanctuary, features a grand aperture in the rammed earth wall, framing vistas of the distant landscape and inviting the outside in.
Preservation of the existing fabric was paramount. The most fragile sections of rammed earth were tenderly stabilized and finished with lime mortar, maintaining material continuity that connects the old with the new. The stone and rammed earth walls were consolidated with lime-based techniques, their surfaces blending seamlessly with the new thermal clay facades. This approach ensures that the narrative of construction is read as a layered history, rather than a stark contrast.
The structural integrity of this architectural symphony is underpinned by a mixed system of concrete, timber, and steel. These elements work harmoniously with the preserved walls, addressing the challenges of settlement, deformation, and material loss.
Environmental stewardship is a cornerstone of the design. Passive bioclimatic strategies abound, from a radiant floor system that communes with the earth to a continuous insulated interior envelope. Rainwater harvesting and stack ventilation, facilitated by the double-height volumes and open courtyard, further enhance the dwelling's ecological performance.
In this reimagined sanctuary, light, climate, and landscape converge to shape a dwelling that is both an observatory and a refuge. Emptied House stands as a beacon of architectural resilience, its spaces animated by the passage of seasons and the dance of light.
This poetic reawakening of a rural ruin by Estudio Veintidós invites us to ponder the delicate balance between tradition and innovation, urging us to embrace the beauty of transformation.
