The original building dates back to the late 15th century and is located in the fortified square that marked the origin of the town. Later, a passage was opened through the building, connecting the square with the upper street. The existing building has a highly distinctive heritage value and is listed as a Local Cultural Asset (BCIL).

The project consists of a lightweight reinforced concrete box that rests directly on the stone load-bearing walls of the basement level, thus avoiding the need for new foundations. These reinforced concrete ribs not only define the various spaces, but also tie together the four existing façades from within, absorbing their outward displacements and reducing wall bending by fixing them at their midpoint. With the façades stabilized by this structural box, the existing walls can once again function structurally, also supporting the load of the new roof.

To minimize the use of reinforced concrete in the box, the floor slabs are lightened by creating a mixed system: solid timber slabs combined with reinforced concrete shear walls and beams, built directly on site. The structural timber serves both as lost formwork for the beams and as an exposed interior finish. Following the same logic of reducing loads, the roof is designed with a timber structure supported on the existing walls.

Program

The structural reinforcement matrix of the existing building organizes the layout of the program through spatial-structural units.

Energy 

We preserve both the openings and the original composition of the façades, understanding that the opportunity for capturing light, illuminating, and ventilating lies in the new roof. One of the six quadrants of the structural matrix is left open, creating a three-story vertical patio. This patio allows access to the three levels of the home, provides natural light to all interior spaces, and enables natural ventilation of the basement level, which suffers from ground moisture-related pathologies. The patio also functions as a bioclimatic element: in winter, it is closed to retain light and warmth, while in summer, it is opened to draw in cool air from the basement.

Heritage

The reinforced concrete shear walls and beams support the façades of the heritage building from the inside, without requiring intervention on the exterior faces. The original stone walls are restored using lime mortar and a mixture of aggregates with locally specific colors, sourced from two nearby quarries.