In Malaga, Spain, FOR Arquitectura has rehabilitated a century-old house suffering from capillary dampness, absence of thermal insulation and a lack of hygienic and sanitary resources. By embracing the original layout of the home and existing materials including the load-bearing walls of Cantilla stone (a local stone used in the construction of the Cathedral naves in Malaga), the architects have embraced the historic memory of the building and its connection to the landscape.
The most invasive of the interior works includes the structural consolidation of the roof that was on the verge of collapse due to woodworm damaged beams. An iron substructure was designed to support the buckling beams.
The interior concept otherwise preserves the original layout of the house, adding only materials and elements that camouflage themselves and coexist gently with what has been recovered. Most notably, the bathroom, corridor and bedroom areas are finished with Catalan tiles measuring 14 x 28 centimetres up to a heigh of 1.2m. The result is a feeling of warmth and the appearance of a vertical tapestry.
Upon reaching the bathroom, the tile dimensions change to 5x25 cm in the washbasin unit and wall to highlight functionality. Black glazed ceramic tiles meanwhile are applied to wet areas such as the bathtub and the countertop of the kitchen. Functionally, the use of ceramics adds thermal buffering to the walls by providing coolness in the shade during the warm season or by retaining the heat accumulated in the walls during the cold season.
The remaining walls are finished with natural white lime mortar that illuminates the spaces while allowing the walls to breathe and prevent condensation.
The timeless result of the renovation encourages reflection on the history and its relationship with place, motiving ideas about new lifestyles and the model of future sustainable architecture.
