The renowned Menorca-based architecture studio Gabriel Montañés presents Casa T, a 286.61m2 property located amidst the island’s most spectacular natural landscape. This project sees a traditional old farmhouse, left derelict for two decades, transformed into a space whose agricultural past fuses with contemporary life.
For Casa T, Gabriel Montañés has successfully combined the original features of the building with materials that form an integral part of Menorcan culture: the original wooden beams, traditional marés sandstone, limestone wall cladding and characteristic colours of the region have all been preserved and reused.
Inspired by vernacular architecture, Gabriel Montañés has preserved the property’s original architectural features, while also opening and fusing the interior spaces to create a bright, welcoming ambience that exudes authenticity. On the ground floor, the kitchen and dining room are combined to form a central living space that fosters interaction and conversation among inhabitants. The focal point of the kitchen is its large concrete island – which forms the crux of all the common spaces in the house.
The home’s interior spaces are expressly designed to maximize natural light and offer panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The terracotta tile flooring and wooden furniture of the living room invoke a warm, relaxing atmosphere, which is complimented by the large windows and patio doors that create seamless continuity between the interior and exterior.
The walls have been painted in white as have the new floors, which allows the property’s traditional features to take centre stage. Several pieces of furniture, such as the dining-room table and benches, have also been made with materials recuperated from the original building.
The more intimate areas of the house are located on the first floor, where the bedroom ceilings boast their original beams – all restored – interpolated with marés sandstone tiles.
The exterior of Casa T is designed to respect the Mediterranean aesthetic, with a polished concrete floor, wooden pergola and small swimming pool that evokes the traditional aljibes (rainwater collection deposits). The garden, designed to incorporate drought-tolerant species native to the region, is also planted with mulberry trees that will eventually grow to provide welcoming shaded areas.
Casa T is the perfect example of how an old property can be reinterpreted and revitalised to create a home that, although modern, is also deeply engrained within its environment and reflects the identity and spirit of the island.
Team:
Architects: Gabriel Montañés Arquitecto
Other participants: Builder: Miquel Orfila SL
Technical architects: Rafael Mus and Amílcar Seguí
Photo credits: Adrià Goula
