82SAN Renovation and Expansion of a Row House in the Center of Terrassa by Vallribera Arquitectes

Houses

Renovation of the row house in the center of Terrassa.

Studio: Vallribera Arquitectes
Location: Terrassa, Barcelona
Phase: Finished construction
Gross floor area: 142m²
Design date: 2016
Construction date: 2017-2018
Developer: Private
Architects: Llorenç Vallribera, Aleix Gil (Vallribera Arquitectes)
Collaborators: Sergi Ballester, architect; Xavier Delgado, quantity surveying; Jesús González, structural consulting.
Total primary energy consumption: 50.57 KWh/m² per year
Total CO2 emissions: 10.59 KgCO2/m² per year
EPC rating: A
Photographs: © José Hevia

The entrance and hallway to the backyard is shown from the outside of the house.
The entrance and hallway to the backyard is shown from the outside of the house.
The color of the building differs from other neighboring houses.
The color of the building differs from other neighboring houses.
In the entrance, the brick wall remains and it was painted in white, ceramic tiles used as the flooring.
In the entrance, the brick wall remains and it was painted in white, ceramic tiles used as the flooring.
A wooden door is installed at the entrance of the house.
A wooden door is installed at the entrance of the house.
Aside from the glass doors, the living room has movable shutters that help regulate sunlight.
Aside from the glass doors, the living room has movable shutters that help regulate sunlight.
The kitchen and dining room is in the same area beside the living.
The kitchen and dining room is in the same area beside the living.
The kitchen has an L-shaped layout to make use of the space for the dining area.
The kitchen has an L-shaped layout to make use of the space for the dining area.
A new loft is added under the roof and can be used as a multi-purpose room or study.
A new loft is added under the roof and can be used as a multi-purpose room or study.
Half of the wall has white finished and the remaining half was purposely left and painted white to give the room a rustic atmosphere.
Half of the wall has white finished and the remaining half was purposely left and painted white to give the room a rustic atmosphere.
The new loft is made of light materials and the area is painted in light tones, which contributes to the lighting of the entire space.
The new loft is made of light materials and the area is painted in light tones, which contributes to the lighting of the entire space.
A shared bathroom is installed near the staircase.
A shared bathroom is installed near the staircase.
The bathroom has a wooden ceiling and a wall lamp to illuminate the room.
The bathroom has a wooden ceiling and a wall lamp to illuminate the room.
The backyard features concrete pavement and a small garden. The shutters are used to regulate the sunlight in the living room.
The backyard features concrete pavement and a small garden. The shutters are used to regulate the sunlight in the living room.
The exterior shows the terrace and the rolling shutters to regulate sunlight.
The exterior shows the terrace and the rolling shutters to regulate sunlight.
Location plan of the house.
Location plan of the house.
Longitudinal section of the house.
Longitudinal section of the house.
Floor plan of every floor of the house.
Floor plan of every floor of the house.

The unique characteristics of this row house come from a very narrow plot (3.8 meters wide) and a very long back yard. The clients, a couple with two children, need the standard program for a family of four.

Within the volume of the existing building, we agree to put in three bedrooms with similar sizes and proportions. On the ground floor, looking over the street, the older son’s bedroom. On the second floor, two more bedrooms: one for the couple and the other for the younger son, each located along one of the façades.

The center is occupied by two bathrooms: one on the second floor and another on the ground floor, also for guests. The volume of the building is expanded in order to place the kitchen-dining-living room adjacent to the patio-garden, at the same level.

A new loft space is added under the roof, which provides and extra multi-purpose room that can be used as a study or as a fourth bedroom. The original staircase is maintained. There is no need for a parking area.

The width of the house conditions the distribution to such an extent that the arrangement of the interior partitions seems to translate directly into the layout of the program. This simplicity is compensated by working with different ceiling heights and qualities. The bedrooms have smooth low ceilings, painted white.

The public areas of the house (kitchen-dining room, staircase, study, and multi-purpose room) have high ceilings with exposed beams and vaults, also white. The areas of the extension (living room and second-floor bathroom) have two new wooden beam and plank ceilings that add a counterpoint of warmth to the house.

On the second floor, this play of different heights reaches its fullest expression at the point where the spaces of the bathroom and stairway (2.2 m high) lead into the study, where the height of the original sloped roof reaches more than 4 meters. From here, a ladder leads up into the loft.

The pavement takes a back seat to the ceilings: the space is tied together by using the same rustic ceramic tile throughout. The sun protection, roll-up window shades, especially in the rear courtyard, aim to create the same effect as the pavement: they are traditional elements used in a contemporary way.

The building envelope is modified to provide the necessary thickness in façades, party walls and roofs; the openings (window and door frames and sun protection) are designed to control heat gains and losses due to sunlight; stone elements are installed strategically to provide thermal inertia, and wood is used to improve hygrothermal performance; the best options are taken into account for heating, cooling and ventilation systems. Everything serves the goal of ensuring the house is comfortable and energy efficient.

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