The project consists of a renovation of an old house located in the center of Sabadell. It is a typical location of the city where we find narrow plots that face two streets. The neighbourhood is characterized by small buildings touching each other. Most houses are two stories high.
The existing house occupies, atypically, the yard of one of the plots, with only an 8m frontage to the street. The house has only one facade and the rest of the boundaries border the patios and garages of the neighbouring buildings. By law, the house, of 90 m², can only be developed on the ground floor.
In addition to this limited space, the existing construction was made up of a vertical and horizontal structure with important pathologies that made its preservation unfeasible. Besides, the humidity due to capillarity and the lack of light and ventilation make the house a totally unhealthy place to live.
The starting point of our project has been to solve all these negative conditions. The solution is obtained from a single movement, the displacement of the existing patio in the center of the house.
This new central courtyard increases its dimensions and becomes the space that organizes the rest of the rooms. At the same time, it provides light, air, radiation and ventilation from its glass roof.
Thanks to this passive strategy, we control the interior temperature of the house, maintaining an annual demand of 19 kW/m² year, and we increase the possibilities of using the central courtyard. It becomes an interior space that stores energy thanks to solar radiation and the thermal inertia of the walls in winter and, in summer, it transforms into a new outdoor terrace.
So, in summary, from a central bioclimatic space we not only solve the pre-existing unsanitary conditions but also create optimal conditions to enjoy a home protected from the noise and stress of a big city.
Bioclimatic strategies and useful life of the building:
- Bioclimatic patio with greenhouse effect.
- Thermal inertia from the ceramic walls and the concrete floor slab.
- High thermal performance envelope.
- Controlled cross ventilation.
Strategies for reducing the ecological footprint:
- Wood as the main element in roofing, windows and interior coverings.
- Walls made from ceramic pieces fired with biomass and local cattle.
- Cellulose isolation.
Team:
Architect: Alventosa Morell Arquitectes
Architects in charge: Marc Alventosa + Xavier Morell
Control execution of works and health coordinator: Iñaki Gonzalez
Structural calculation: Diagonal Arquitectura, Eduard Simó
Photography: Adrià Goula
Material Used:
1. Jesfer: Wooden slabs
2. Metalistería Metcor: Glass Patio Cover
3. Etecmia: General installations, home automation
4. Fusteria Jaume Olivé S.L: Wooden windows
5. Ya Mobles: Interior furniture and wood finishes
