Structure workplace OHLAB has renovated a historic house constructing in Palma de Mallorca introducing up to date components together with a meandering wood walkway that distinction with the unique options.
Can Santacilia is a 3,300-square-metre residential growth containing 15 residences and customary areas distributed throughout two adjoining buildings within the coronary heart of Palma de Mallorca’s outdated city.
Components of the present constructing seem so far again so far as the twelfth or thirteenth century, though the primary constructing because it stands was erected within the seventeenth century and was subsequently modified within the 18th and twentieth centuries.
Native structure and design workplace OHLAB was tasked with overseeing a modernisation mission involving repairs to the present construction, in addition to the delicate restoration of key authentic options together with the primary central courtyard.
“The constructing was deserted and in a extremely dangerous form with some elements about to break down, whereas one of the best elements didn’t meet essentially the most primary dwelling situations,” OHLAB administrators Paloma Hernaiz and Jaime Oliver advised Dezeen.
A rigorously performed restoration course of positioned emphasis on sustaining the historic integrity of the constructing while adapting it to fulfill the wants of its new occupants.
“We needed to do a radical and intensive renovation of the entire constructing,” the OHLAB architects defined.
“The distribution was modified and reorganised, new partition partitions and layouts have been added to accommodate the housing proposal and new installations have been required to adapt the residences to up to date consolation and energy-efficient requirements.”
The mission preserves the unique options that make the constructing distinctive, such because the wrought-iron balustrades, stone columns, conventional courtyard and a wood coffered ceiling that was uncovered throughout the restoration.
The courtyard was enclosed within the twentieth century, with clean partitions used to hide a parking space. Primarily based on different conventional buildings within the metropolis, the structure studio restored this area to the way it might need regarded within the early Baroque interval.
The courtyard’s typical staircase and porched gallery have been retained and two arched openings have been added – one alongside a brand new indoor pool and the opposite in entrance of the doorway, supported by a pair of ionic columns.
Internally, the frequent areas of the 2 buildings are related by a wood walkway that mitigates a peak distinction of roughly 90 centimetres.
The studio stated the walkway was designed to take customers on a journey, “as if discovering an archaeological damage”, main them previous among the constructing’s key historic options, together with a fire, a stone arch, a tiled flooring and ornate plaster mouldings on the ceiling.
Architectural interventions have been carried out utilizing a cloth palette that clearly separates them from the present construction. The walkway was created from mild oak that was additionally used for different circulation areas together with a staircase and the raise interiors.
“We added items which might be at all times clearly new and up to date,” defined Hernaiz and Oliver, “with shapes and supplies that in no case need to imitate or cover the traditional ones.”
The distinction between outdated and new can also be evident within the residences, a few of which function fashionable mirrored volumes used to partition the present areas while sustaining their general proportions.
The mirrored packing containers by no means attain all the best way to the ceilings, making certain the unique wood-beam development or ornamental mouldings stay seen and uninterrupted.
“The mirror field disappears in its reflection, giving again the area stolen by its presence and returning a whole picture of the room,” the OHLAB architects added.
“Solely once you get nearer, do you realise it is a up to date partition that permits you to enter into one other area, manufactured from stone.”
Some of the stunning discoveries made whereas stripping again the dilapidated interiors was an ornate medieval ceiling created from painted wood beams and coffers, supported by a central stone pillar.
OHLAB claimed that this discover prompted the redesign of 40 per cent of the full mission, together with six of the 15 residences, as a way to persevere the integrity of the coffered ceiling and incorporate it into one of many dwelling areas.
The palette used all through the private and non-private areas favours pure, native supplies chosen to stress the constructing’s historical past and Mediterranean character.
Stone and timber structural components was mixed with plaster and wooden mouldings, mortar and lime coatings and flooring in ceramic and wooden finishes.
Excessive-quality fixtures and particulars in native stone, bronze, porcelain and textiles together with native linen and cotton improve the premium really feel throughout the inside areas.
Hernaiz and Oliver initially based OHLAB in Shanghai in 2007 earlier than transferring to Madrid and finally settling in Palma de Mallorca, the place they head up a staff of 18 architects, inside designers and engineers.
OHLAB’s earlier initiatives embody an house block in Palma de Mallorca lined with skinny wood slats that shade the interiors, and a standalone villa at a resort on the island with a window designed to border a panoramic view of the panorama.
The pictures is by José Hevia.
