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Estate in Extremadura

  • Architecture, interior design and construction: ÁBATON

Nestled in a privileged environment in the province of Cáceres, the objective was to transform an abandoned barn into a family country house through a comprehensive, coherent and respectful rehabilitation with the environment. This work aims to show itself as a non-intervention in the territory that recognizes the pre-existence as a wise position of the human being in nature.

Abandoned stable becomes off-grid, luxurious family dream home

A+ Architizer 2013 Award in the Architecture+Sustainability category.
Finalists “Domus Restauro e Consenvazione” (Italy).

“Good architecture is timeless, that which understands the passage of time and incorporates it as another element in the design, as a patina of experience and history.”

A wise position in nature

After analyzing the typologies of the environment of this country house, the south orientation, the position of the building sheltered by the Gredos mountains… it was recognized in this rural architecture a much more intelligent piece than it may seem at first glance. It is for this reason, and for the beautiful nature in which it is located, that the new country house repeats the existing volumetry and materials, taking advantage of the experience of the original construction itself.

Facade of a modern country house with a tiled roof, a stone fireplace, and large windows overlooking the forest
A rural stone farmhouse with a modern design, featuring a tile roof, large windows, and a pool
A double-height living room made of concrete, steel, and stone, featuring a minimalist fireplace set against a white wall
Living area with a leather chair, a rustic wooden table, and a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the garden
Concrete and steel interior with a metal staircase and wooden armchairs upholstered in leather
Living room with exposed concrete, mid-century wooden chairs, and floor-to-ceiling windows facing a stone wall
Living room at a country estate in Extremadura with a sofa, a rustic wooden table, and paper lanterns in front of a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the mountains

No interior is deprived of the views of the place where it is located or the feeling of an intimate connection with nature.

A country house that opens up to nature

A large central space is created for the living room and kitchen, around which the various rooms are arranged. Basic materials are used: water, iron, cement, and the existing stone; the interior is made lighter by replacing load-bearing walls with lightweight metal columns. A fountain is built in the courtyard where water naturally flows from a rock, helping to cool the home during the hottest months and bringing a sense of nature into the main living area of the country house. The central space opens fully from north to south to maximize views of the valley, effectively blurring the boundaries with the outdoors.

Close-up of the charred wooden plank with light filtering through the leaves at Ábaton's estate in Extremadura
A person cutting a lemon on a cutting board with a tree-bark design, on a table covered with a tablecloth printed with gray lines
A tile-roofed house with a stone wall, with lush trees in the background
Entrance to the stone cottage with a rustic wooden door and a spacious open dining room. A minimalist and cozy design surrounded by nature.
Kitchen with a high, sloped ceiling, an island, a dining table, minimalist stools, and glass doors
Bright dining room with a long white table, Scandinavian wooden chairs, and a light-colored wooden ceiling
ÁBATON's bathroom at the country estate in Extremadura, featuring a stone sink, an open shower, and a window overlooking the countryside
Bedroom with a double bed in neutral tones and a metal reading lamp
Natural stone sink with wall-mounted faucets, under a sloped wooden ceiling
Minimalist bathroom with a steel faucet, stone sink, and natural light streaming in through a large window; interior design in a modern rustic style
Rustic bedroom with a double bed, a linen blanket, striped pillows, and a large window overlooking the forest
A bathroom with a stone sink and a minimalist faucet, with the person's reflection in the mirror. A space with natural light and stone walls in the background.
Water flowing over a stone structure in a rustic pond

From barn to contemporary country house

Sustainability and Respect for the Environment

Although the home is naturally thermally stable, the problems arising from the lack of electricity and running water were resolved through the sustainability systems that ÁBATON implements in all its projects: a solar panel system with batteries was designed to provide power in the summer; turbines were installed to harness the flow of two streams that run through the property, providing electrical power to the batteries in the winter. One of the farming terraces has been converted into a natural pool through which water flows constantly, serving to irrigate the pastures. No interior is deprived of the views of its surroundings or the sense of an intimate connection with nature.

Side view of a sustainable country house, built with natural materials and featuring large windows
A stone cottage with a gabled roof and a natural swimming pool, nestled in the heart of nature. Rustic and sustainable design in a peaceful, green setting
  • ÁBATON Team: Camino Alonso, Ignacio Lechón, Carlos Alonso, Fernando Alonso
  • Photographs: Eugeni Pons, Derek Pedros and Belén Imaz
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