Full Renovation LVL
- Architecture, interior design, landscaping and construction: ÁBATON
A complete renovation in Madrid of a house from the 1960s
This house, one of the ÁBATON integral reforms in Madrid, is located on a plot of 2.500m2, and has 600m2 built.
The original house had excellent qualities to be rehabilitated and converted into a modern house, in a beautiful environment. Therefore, efforts were made to generate new spaces with architectural quality that would take advantage of its location and the richness of the plot.
“The original construction was from the 1960s, had a beautiful plot, with valuable woodland and excellent location, but lacked light and spaces of architectural quality.”
“The central courtyard, in addition to providing natural lighting, improves the energy efficiency of the house, allowing openness during summer nights without compromising safety and cooling the entire house naturally.”
A spacious and bright concept
For the renovation of this old house we sought to maintain the original structure as much as possible, taking advantage of resources and avoiding massive demolitions. The east and west modules of the structure were maintained and the central part was demolished, thus generating the necessary volumes for the main spaces of the house: living room, dining room and kitchen on the first floor and master bedroom upstairs.
To break with the original compartmentalized distribution and small spaces, the old ceilings were extended and a central courtyard garden was created around which the main uses of the house are structured. The interior-exterior boundary disappears at this point of the renovation thanks to the large sliding windows that disappear through the wall. In this way, vegetation and natural light and ventilation are effortlessly introduced into the interior spaces.
A modern house that embraces nature
The intention in this integral reform in Madrid was to put the garden inside the house to achieve a constant link with nature. A careful landscaping project was developed to enjoy a multitude of varieties from every corner of the house, which change color and texture with the passing of the seasons. With this intervention, the idea was to envelop the house in color, also enhancing the value of the overwhelming pre-existing vegetation.
“The LVL system is driving a new wave of agile, renewable construction and offers an opportunity to learn about the vast possibilities of wood.”
The intrinsic relationship with the outside world
The main floor houses the practical spaces of daily life. The linkage between the different areas allows family members to always be in contact with each other and the natural sensations, blurring the indoor-outdoor boundary.
The approach of the fireplace, a distinctive element of the space, is adapted to this linkage with the outdoors by being open to both the interior and the porch, so that it allows the use of this outdoor space to be extended as the year progresses.
The bedrooms were distributed on the upper floor, maintaining the link with the exterior spaces and the environment. The master bedroom has a huge window that allows the complete opening of the south facade, both in the bedroom space and in the bathroom. The children’s and guest bedrooms were renovated on the structure of the old house, creating spaces with a sloping roof, a vestige of the original house, while maintaining part of its essence.
A sustainable reform
For the renovation of this old house, part of the structure was made with the LVL system, a laminated wood system designed to be stronger than steel, but lighter than concrete and at the same time very adaptable and durable, this has proven its value to be the chosen option when talking about structural applications.
