The project reconverts the use of a small traditional farmhouse developed in several phases since the beginning of the 20th century. The building is located at the vertex of the valley described by the Santa Lucía River and the Fornelos stream, very close to River Ulla mouth. The environment is dotted with peaks, “castros” and petroglyphs, within a scattered context dominated by small neighborhoods or “parroquias” such as O Piñeiro. It is intended to maintain the general character of the environment and the building, implementing a traditional Food House where the kitchen as a place and cooking process had always been part of the experience.

A house composed of a main volume from the beginning of the 20th century, a secondary one added shortly after and a third perpendicular disposed, open to the east, which was a domestic pen added in the 1950s, is restored. The first ones are built according to the traditional technique of masonry wall and wood and tile roofs, while the corral already belongs to the techniques of local modernity.

The previous use of housing was conceived from the inside out: from the house to the warehouse or the corral and from there to the crop or livestock. The project inverts this quality, turning the contained space into the centripetal axis of all operations. To achieve this void, it is necessary to stitch together the two oldest buildings, opening the wall that separated the warehouse from the house, trying to reach the maximum available interior volume. The kitchen occupies the central place, which is configured as a scene that is perceived horizontally, but also vertically. The existing semi-basement is conditioned for a dining room, which extends towards ground level and from there is projected in an ascending spiral path materialized with light wooden and metal slabs anchored directly to the wall. The dining hall is thus fragmented into four places, visually connected, but physically separated, always rotating around the fire. Due to its massive nature, this whole place hardly has any views or natural light, since the project does not alter the position or dimensions of the existing openings. It is a place where the commensal withdraws and concentrates on the kitchen and the food; the artificial light only accompanies the view.

Outside, in the corral, the auxiliary and bar services are arranged. They are disposed between the outdoor terrace that is at the same time dining room and entrance; and the food hall. It is an intermediate place, opened to the landscape, but air-conditioned; next to the kitchen, but segregated; in a continuity of the architectonical type of gates, sheds and other auxiliary buildings so typical of the environment.

The complex acquires full meaning on the outside, with the vine, in an almost annular arrangement, that generates a vegetal aura around the building. It is at the same time shadow and transition between the public and private limits. A frame to the landscape, which will be recovered on the terrace. Meanwhile, its trace is evoqued in the dimensions of the cuts of the continuous pavement.

Team:
Architect: MCVR Studio
Other participants: Alberto López Rodríguez, Solutec Innova
Photography: Adrian Capelo Cruz

Material Used:
1. Facade: Lime based mortar, MPBH, Pulmor
2. Flooring: Self-leveling concrete, SikaFloor Level 50, Sika
3. Doors: Pinewood, Local manufacturing, Félix Burela Calvo
4. Windows: Double fixed glass, Solarlux, Tvitec
5. Interior lighting: Architect Design, MCVR Studio
6. Interior furniture: Architect Design, MCVR Studio
7. Stairs + substructure: Natural steel