Biaix House / GRAT

closed

The design preserves the historical exterior shape of the farmhouse while introducing a new formal and material logic inside. It frames views of the regenerating landscape, partially transformed by a recent wildfire. An austere materiality of lime mortar is applied throughout the project, reintroducing a material that was traditionally used in rural houses. The local limestone, characteristic of the interior of Catalonia, defines the color palette of the design.The adjacent annex becomes a new living space, connected to the main house by a new spiral staircase. The rear facade opens up, making the house completely accessible and exposed to the elements.Text description provided by the architects.Casa Biaix is located along the Aubareda Path, a trail that winds through fields of wheat, rapeseed, and Mediterranean forests. It sits atop a small hill, amidst a pine forest and an olive grove, just a few meters away from one of the oldest oaks in Barcelona.The daytime program on the ground floor is organized to enhance visual connections with a landscape that changes throughout the seasons. On the upper floor, the rooms are arranged along a diagonal hallway that shapes the distinctive interior geometry. That oblique form is used to optimize service spaces and accommodate an additional room for the family.