Barn House

Monte Real, Portugal

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Barn House

Monte Real, Portugal

Firm

Ines Brandao Arquitectura

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2014

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

Photos

Joao Morgado - Architecture Photography (17)

Recovering a building with 50 years ‐ half housing, half barn.
The aim is to maintain existing memories from a space that, once, was the stage to such varied
experiences ‐ rural stories mixed with stories of young people from a controversial time.
In the presence of such a special place, as the barn, is chosen to protect it and elect it as the
protagonist of the new home of a young growing family.
A single new element is inserted in this space, almost like a furniture piece, that idea is
accentuated by its own materiality ‐ painted OSB. With a very small budget (the other goal), it
is essential to create a compact element, bringing together all the new functions ‐ kitchen,
toilets, storage and staircase.
This "furniture" is fundamental in the compartmentalization of the social area of the ground
floor, dividing the space between entrance area, living room, dining area and kitchen. The top
floor, which served in other times, for drying grain, is overlooking the social area and works as
a retreat space and working area.
The materialization of this piece would have to be made from something that, at the same
time, would have a structural role and would help me to communicate easily this idea of
furniture.
The choice of using OSB, an ecological and economic material, was quite easy, due to its
structural characteristics and its plasticity. I knew, that with this material I could make all the
single elements from this model – walls, doors, kitchen and storage cabinets, stairs and even
the floor on the top of the model. I used the type 3 of OSB, that can support high levels of
humidity ‐ an important detail when you want to use it in humid areas.
It was importante, for me, to create a visual contrast between the floor (in portuguese pine)
and the white walls and roof, but it was also important to assume the texture of the wood. The
black color on OSB boards helped me at this point.