The conversion of the Prefab House is a compact red structure, which is embedded on a group of shotcrete columns in the middle of the forests of Barcelona. In view of the challenge of restoring a dilapidated wooden house that was originally built on a nine-Pillar foundation and was falsified in the mountains, the Spanish studio test developed a unique approach. Instead of choosing the full demolition, the studio proposed three innovative replacement strategies to the new owners. Finally, they chose a modular, prefabricated system that is to be placed on the existing foundations, emphasizing flexible life inside and outdoors.
Designer: Studio test
The newly designed house is compact and yet structurally efficient and includes an area of 60 square meters. Each of these modules measures 3x3x3 meters and ensures a uniform and coherent design. The modules are strategically stacked on reinforced shotgear concrete columns, which minimizes the ecological effects on the site. This enables the house to rest in the natural landscape and to preserve the integrity of the area. These columns are also equipped with mechanical fastening elements, which facilitates the lightness of the assembly and at the same time enables potential future modifications if the need should take place.
The architectural team at test paid special care to dress the modules in structured wood. This choice of material helps the house to integrate seamlessly into its natural environment despite its striking red external. The structured wood acts as a bridge between the brave architectural statement and the serenity of the forest environment, so that the house can harmonize with the landscape. This thoughtful design ensures that the apartment remains both a unique and a supplementary addition to its quiet environment.
Inside, the layout and the surface of the house of a minimalist aesthetics follow, which is infused with subtle industrial elements that give the room character. The design prioritizes flexibility and eliminates rigid programming to offer a versatile living environment. By avoiding solid elements, the space to the developing spatial needs and configurations can be adapted, whereby the dynamic lifestyle of its inmates meets over time.
The architects have thoughtfully integrated an outer wooden shell that envelops expansive glazing. This blesses the preparatory house with the unique ability to open up almost exclusively for its surroundings, to offer a breathtaking view of the surrounding leaves and to enable nature to surround residents from every perspective. If the residents want some privacy or a cozy withdrawal, the house can be completely closed and offer an intimate and remote living space. This double ability ensures that the house can easily change between mixing with the natural landscape and a refuge for its residents, which means that if necessary, the general living experience with openness and seclusion is improved.
