A breath of new life in Santiago

The importance of renovating/preserving old buildings – especially in city centers – becomes more relevant every year. Keeping and upgrading what is worthwhile – in this case a building with history. The Spanish architectural ensemble around “Arrokabe”-Arquitectos was responsible for the revitalization of the “Casa do Medio”, a historic town house in Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Casa do Medio – A house built of stone with the charming flair known from the south. The architects planned a chirogic intervention in the historical substance, which was carried out with intelligence. Minor wall and ceiling breaks were made to make the spatial structure more spacious without changing the essence. Pure elegance through simplicity now precedes the terraced house, which offers space for a family with three children. The location where the house stands is known for its social diversity. It also marks the entrance to the historic old town.

The Casa do Medio has three floors plus attic space, which was extended by a decontextualized second layer on the rear façade. More space for the second floor and a terrace with a view of the garden are the result of this measure. Partial ceiling demolitions in the interior ensure deeper penetration of light. The vertical staircase in the interior was extended to guide the sunlight that penetrates through the upper roof opening deeper into the interior. An undulating timber-clad ceiling connects this vertical space, which can also be seen as a gallery, with the living area without creating a clear separation.

The existing floor plan, which was initially angled, has lost its severity thanks to open and flowing spaces that are only occasionally divided by floor-to-ceiling glazed windows.

The architects decided to use more wood to create a certain warmth. In addition, the stones of the existing building should remain partially visible to show the history of the building to residents and visitors.

Photos: Luis Diaz Diaz