yinjispace

INTERIOR
Studio BI
PHOTOGRAPHY
David Zarzoso
EDITOR
Gina
Collection

Lost in nature and located in a privileged setting, the project is conceived as an intimate place for retreat and disconnection. It is a refuge open to the horizon, a contemplative place that seeks an atmosphere of well-being. Built with an introspective architecture, our intervention had to aspire to establish and force a continuous dialogue between the interior world of the building and the natural interior landscape of the plot. In addition, it was necessary to recover the personality of the old, traditional building through a new, more contemporary interpretation of its design.

The work carried out on the old caserío was conceived as a respectful, continuous exercise, highlighting the spaces and their relationship with the immediate natural environment. Inside, however, we wanted to surprise. So we proposed breaking up the rigidity of the more traditional architecture with open, interconnected spaces and using a minimalist language that coexists with elements of the original architecture.

The exterior of the building has been restored as much as possible to recover its original aesthetic. This brings out the character of the noble elements of its construction; the stone and the excellent woodwork of local craftsmen shine once again. In terms of the interior spaces, the main interventions are aimed at creating large spaces and restoring iconic elements: the main staircase and the fireplace. The living room, the heart of the house, is located in a double-height area surrounded by large windows that allow light to flood into the entire ground floor of the house. To achieve this, the main roof is being rebuilt and small openings are being made in some of the windows on the façades surrounding the living room.

Modifying the roof allows the space under the roof to be used to create new rooms such as bedrooms or an upper living area. At the same time, the base of the building is being extended to create a large meeting/dining room in the semi-basement and an adjoining wine cellar. An atmosphere of well-being is sought through the use of natural materials, both in the envelope and in the interior elements. Lime mortar unifies all the interior spaces, contrasting with walnut wood and natural stones for the most unique features. The lighting, which is respectful of the materials, provides a general atmosphere. The most unique elements are highlighted with accent lighting using special light fixtures.

The textures used, the woods selected and the finishes of the freestanding elements all reflect the respect and natural dialogue that characterise the interior design project. For the kitchen, wardrobes and dressing rooms, we used Dica, the main supplier for our showroom. We adapt their designs, in this case in dark-toned hardwoods, to configure the kitchen spaces and custom-made cabinets for each room. In the bathrooms, pieces by Antonio Lupi and Novello interact with cabinetry elements designed specifically for each area. For the freestanding pieces in the other living spaces, we incorporate unique design elements from brands such as Ondarreta and Gubi.

The plot has a significant slope from the exterior access to the connection with the house. This transition is understood as a sensory walk, enveloped in scents and colours, which leads to the entrance area. To achieve this, low-cut exotic floral species have been selected and combined with the existing native vegetation. This access area, immediately adjacent to the house, has been landscaped by creating a series of platforms and steps that solve the difference in height between the road and the pedestrian access. Floral elements are mixed with more sculptural elements, around vertical and horizontal planes made of concrete. For the rest of the outdoor spaces, sustainable gardening criteria have been applied, using local species or those that are easily acclimatised to the Cantabrian coastal ecosystem. As a result, most of the plot does not need irrigation and requires very little maintenance. These species are combined with more permanent walkways or platforms, which are also made of wood.

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