House of giants, Valencia | Iterare arquitectos


Iterare arquitectos from Valencia, Spain, recently finished the complete refurbishment of a traditional house in the fisherman´s historical neighbourhood of El Cabañal.

The house features a staircase built with solid natural stone from the area. Huge heavy pieces up to 8 cm in thickness and up to more than 200 kg each, were cut in the workshop and assembled on site piece by piece, step by step. The stone forms the structure, the steps, the walls, floor and ceiling and so walking through it becomes an atmospheric experience full of reflections, shadows, and quite a tactile one. 

Photography © David Zarzoso



Description: 

 

Located in Valencia´s famous fisherman’s neighbourhood of El Cabañal, House of Giants sets itself as a singular construction on this historical area. Its innovation, far from using in vogue solutions completely out of context and place, comes from the deep update of the history that takes place in this building.

 

Without oversimplifying or stylizing, the task was to bring up with an updated contemporary proposition, all those materials and construction techniques of the Mediterranean, those of the local people and local industry, efficient and responsible, those that stood the test and weight of time with great dignity. And so all over the house natural stone from the area, earthy lime plaster, reclaimed wood from the very building and other such materials and traditional techniques are used though with a contemporary understanding of them, not being a call to the past but a hint to the future.

 

It was a kind of precedent aiming to update the built heritage of the neighbourhood, thus preparing it for its future; without overwriting, insulting or perverting any of the aspects of its past.

 

Spatially, the interior staircase connecting each level is, with no doubt, the key element of the house. Traveling it becomes a sensual experience; walking through a cave completely covered with natural stone, rich in reflections, light and shadows over the walls and steps.

 

On the facade, the owner, also a local artist engraver, will give the house its name, for his work in the shape of figures of Giants, is engraved on the stone and glass. This way the house links itself with those ancient buildings still present on the area, with a symbolism in decoration that was part of their owners particular persona.





























Source: Iterare arquitectos