Casa Cabanyal | Viruta lab

Historic housing – Rehabilitation and interior design

“When the project was presented to us, the client spoke with excitement about the idea of bringing life back to his grandparents' house, which had been sealed off for years. We like to start our initial meetings around our round table with a cup of coffee, listening to their experiences, expectations and, above all, their dreams. It's like having coffee with friends, engaging in a relaxed conversation.
 
The emotion was a crucial starting point; it's a family legacy and the client's deeply ingrained perception of it made it necessary to approach the intervention with the utmost respect and a language they could understand and embrace as their own.
 
Whenever we embark on a project involving an existing structure, we take the time to admire it with respect, understanding how it was conceived and designed, and, most importantly, listening to its "architectural whisper" – what we refer to as the soul of architecture. We identify its values, significant elements, and treat them as integral parts of the project. Regardless of their economic value or the cost of preservation, sentimental value always takes precedence. Respect for heritage is paramount in these projects, and we strive to be as careful as possible, avoiding false historical narratives and reconstructions.
 
The residence is located in one of the most unique neighborhoods in the city of Valencia, the Cabanyal district, where traditional fishermen's houses, tiled facades, colorful buildings, and modernist structures still exist. It has been a pleasure to work on the conservation of this heritage. From the outset of the project, it was clear that we needed to honor the local customs, architecture, and essence of the dwelling. Thus, the intervention was designed to evoke the sea breeze, the characteristic light of Valencia (reminiscent of Sorolla's paintings) and imbue it with a maritime aesthetic. We reinterpreted the Mediterranean style to align with the neighborhood's traditions, using its own materials.”
– David Puerta and María Daroz, cofounders of Viruta Lab.
 

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Return the sentimental value to the home

This historic house of 85m2 square is a small jewel of the most seafaring neighborhood of Valencia: the Cabanyal. A two-storey building, from 1946, which needs to be restored to its hidden splendor, overshadowed for too many years by its closure, humidity and the passage of time. Thus, it was a modest residence where the grandparents of the current owner used to live. A place of immeasurable sentimental value that breathes the memory of an entire family. In it, the grandfather used to anchor his fisherman's net on the façade every day after finishing his day's work. The inner courtyard still shows him sitting on his rope stool next to the stone trough that has been recovered by the Valencian studio as an echo of the passing of time.
 
The project focuses on elevating the historicism of the house so that the third generation can enjoy it again. To do this, Viruta Lab has recovered the essential elements that could be deteriorated, providing a new language that evokes sea and salt in every corner. Through traditional materials, used since the 1920s, the chromatism and its shape, they have materialized a house with saltpeter-painted canvas.
 
Recovered materials and geometric effects: the meeting point between tradition and contemporaneity
The deep background of Viruta Lab in the field of architectural heritage conservation has allowed the studio to carry out a respectful intervention in this house. The floor plan of the project responds to the typical geometry of the Cabanyal neighborhood. It is a two-storey house with a small façade and a vertical communication at the back next to a small courtyard. To preserve its essence, the studio has maintained the color of the façade, as well as its ornamental distribution with the openings and the main staircase, as determined by the architectural legacy of that time.
 
During its construction, the entire house was stripped, leaving the original bricks exposed and the pre-existing moldings were repaired to give height and nostalgic value to the interior design. On the main floor, open concept day areas are planned. These connect the entrance of the house with the backyard, generating perspectives, enhancing geometric perceptions and providing the space with direct cross ventilation and greater natural lighting. In it, there is also a large wooden box that structures the space and works as a container for the toilet, which is hidden inside.
 
On the upper floor, Viruta Lab has designed the two bedrooms that share a central core: a complete closed toilet, in the form of a wooden box, with an outdoor sink area that serves as an island and distinctive element. This bathroom generates a double circulation that is filtered by the recovery of the old glass and wood doors.
 
The materialization of the house follows a single direction: reinterpreting the original interior design, adapting it to the needs of today. Therefore, the original brick walls have been preserved in the party walls to contrast with a two-color blue and off-white mosaic carpet in checkerboard pattern that dresses the floors and walls of the space. This is a typical element of the Cabanyal façades which, from 1875 onwards, began to suffer an explosion of this geometric-shaped ceramic material that is still part of the popular imaginary of the neighborhood today. This checkerboard pattern provides a hypnotic optical effect that enhances the spaces and is presented as a differentiating, traditional element with its own unique atmosphere.
 
The staircase appears as the focus of the space. The meeting point between past, present and future. In it, the original one-piece granite steps have been preserved, its landing is dressed by the original black terrazzo with white grain and leads to the new checkerboard floor introduced by Viruta Lab.
 
The interior carpentry was recovered before demolition. Both the access door and the doors leading to the rooms have been treated, stripped and waxed. The rest of the carpentry has been designed to generate the volumes destined to the toilets. These have a two-color mosaic tile inside that stitches the interior design of the house and the esparto grass ceiling that marks the difference between the personal hygiene area, finished in microcement.
 
In addition, the house has a walkable roof that hosts the leisure rest area. In it, the roof has been waterproofed with a traditional small-format clay tile, known as Catalan, and placed in a staggered pattern. On it, stands a wooden gazebo to contemplate the magical moonlit nights of Valencia.
 
Lighting and furniture: the keys to the project
The house keeps the traditional entrance of natural light with which it was conceived in 1946. Due to the level of protection it has by heritage, Viruta Lab has respected the openings that fill the interior with a Mediterranean light, the light of Sorolla. Furthermore, the backyard provides ambient light to the interior through its generous opening towards the kitchen. On the other hand, the imposing glazed veranda that protrudes from the plane of the façade on the upper floor makes the imprint of the sun present from dawn and, above all, works as a channel for the sea breeze and the smell of saltpetre.
 
The artificial lighting project has been conceived to fill the night hours with light. Wall lamps in each room with more precise and focused illumination. Also, Viruta Lab has introduced a lamp with a 360º rotating disk to enhance the textures of the bricks, moldings and porcelain tiles.
 
For its side, the furniture has been designed by Viruta Lab ad hoc to be able to complete this interior design of great complexity due to its reduced dimensions. Likewise, the studio has solved the discordant elements through three materials: wood stained in the same tone as the rest of the interior carpentry, esparto textile and the green fabric of the seats. As for the chromaticism, the green of the furniture together with the blue of the checkerboard mosaic enhance the colors most used in the houses of this traditional typology of Valencian architecture.

Credits
Architecture Firm: Viruta Lab
Lead Architects: María Daroz (architect) & David Puerta (interior designer)

Photography:
David Zarzoso
http://davidzarzoso.com

[ES]
Devolver el valor sentimental a la vivienda
Esta vivienda histórica de 85m2 cuadrados es una pequeña joya del barrio más marinero de València: el Cabanyal. Un edificio de dos plantas, que data de 1946, al cual es necesario devolverle su esplendor oculto, opacado durante demasiados años por su cierre, la humedad y el paso del tiempo. Así pues, se trata de una modesta vivienda en la que vivían los abuelos del actual propietario. Un lugar de un inconmensurable valor sentimental que respira el recuerdo de una familia entera. En ella, el patriarca anclaba cada día su red de pescador en la fachada tras terminar su jornada. El patio interior aún lo dibuja sentado en su banqueta de cuerda junto al abrevadero de piedra que ha sido recuperado por el estudio valenciano como seña del paso del tiempo.
 
De esta forma, el proyecto se centra en elevar el historicismo de la casa para que la tercera generación pueda volver a disfrutar de ella. Para ello, Viruta Lab ha recuperado las partes esenciales que pudieran estar deterioradas aportando un nuevo lenguaje que evoque mar y sal en cada rincón. A través de materiales tradicionales, empleados desde los años 20, el cromatismo y su formalidad, ha materializado una vivienda con telones pintados de salitre.
 
Materiales recuperados y juegos geométricos: el punto de encuentro entre tradición y contemporaneidad
El profundo bagaje de Viruta Lab en el ámbito de la conservación del patrimonio arquitectónico, le ha permitido al estudio realizar una intervención respetuosa en esta vivienda. La planta del proyecto responde a la geometría típica del barrio del Cabanyal. Se trata de una vivienda de dos plantas con una fachada de reducidas dimensiones y una comunicación vertical al fondo junto a un pequeño patio. Para conservar su esencia, el estudio ha mantenido el color de la fachada, así como su distribución ornamental con los huecos y la escalera principal, tal y como determina el legado arquitectónico de aquella época.
 
Durante la obra, se descarna toda la vivienda dejando desnudos los ladrillos originales y se reparan las molduras preexistentes para otorgar altura y dotar de valor nostálgico al interiorismo. En la planta baja, se proyectan las zonas de día de conceptos abiertos. Estas conectan la entrada de la vivienda con el patio trasero generando perspectivas, potenciando las percepciones geométricas y dotando al espacio de ventilación cruzada directa y mayor iluminación natural. En ella, se encuentra también una gran caja de madera que vertebra el espacio que funciona como contenedor para el servicio de aseo que queda oculto en su interior.
 
En la planta superior, Viruta Lab ha proyectado los dos dormitorios que comparten núcleo central: un aseo completo cerrado, a modo de caja de madera, con una zona de lavabo exterior que funciona como isla y elemento diferenciador. Este baño genera una doble circulación que se tamiza con la recuperación de las antiguas puertas de cristal y madera.
 
Así pues, la materialización de la vivienda sigue una única dirección: reinterpretar el diseño de interiores original, adaptándolo a las necesidades de la actualidad. Por ello, las paredes originales de ladrillo se han preservado en los muros medianeros para contrastar con una alfombra de mosaico bicolor azul y blanco roto en modelo damero que viste los suelos y paredes del espacio. Se trata de un elemento típico de las fachadas del Cabanyal que, a partir de 1875, comenzaron a sufrir una eclosión por este material cerámico de formas geométricas que todavía hoy forma parte del imaginario popular del barrio. Este diseño de damero aporta un efecto óptico hipnótico que maximiza los espacios y se presenta como un elemento diferenciador, tradicional y con una atmósfera propia y singular.
 
La escalera aparece como protagonista del espacio. El punto de encuentro entre pasado, presente y futuro. En ella, se han preservado los escalones originarios de granito de una sola pieza en huellas y contrahuellas; su descansillo está vestido por el terrazo negro de veta blanca existente y desemboca en el nuevo suelo de damero introducido por Viruta Lab.
 
Por su parte, la carpintería interior fue recuperada antes de la demolición. Tanto la puerta de acceso como las de paso a las habitaciones han sido tratadas, decapadas y enceradas. El resto de la carpintería se ha proyectado para generar los volúmenes destinados a los aseos. Estos cuentan en su interior con el aplacado en mosaico bicolor que cose el interiorismo de la vivienda y con el techo entelado en esparto que diferencia la zona de higiene personal, finalizada en microcemento.
 
Además, la vivienda cuenta con una azotea transitable que ha sido destinada para el descanso lúdico. En ella, se ha impermeabilizado la cubierta con una plaqueta tradicional de barro en formato pequeño, llamada catalana, y colocada a tresbolillo. Sobre ella, descansa un cenador de madera para poder contemplar las mágicas noches a la luna de València.
 
Iluminación y mobiliario: las claves del proyecto
La vivienda mantiene la entrada de luz natural tradicional con la fue concebida en 1946. Por el nivel de protección que presenta por parte de Patrimonio, Viruta Lab ha respetado los huecos que bañan el interior con una luz propia del Mediterráneo, la luz de Sorolla. Además, el patio trasero insufla luz ambiente al interior a través de su apertura generosa hacia la cocina. Por otra parte, el imponente mirador acristalado que sobresale del plano de la fachada en la planta superior hace presente desde el amanecer la impronta del sol y, sobre todo, funciona como canalizador de la brisa del mar y el olor a salitre.
 
El proyecto de iluminación artificial se ha concebido para llenar de luz las horas nocturnas. Apliques de pared en cada estancia con iluminaciones más puntuales y focalizadas. Además, Viruta Lab ha introducido una lámpara con un disco giratorio 360º para potenciar las texturas de los ladrillos, las molduras y los revestimientos porcelánicos.
 
Por su lado, el mobiliario ha sido diseñado por Viruta Lab ad hoc para poder cerrar este diseño de interiores de gran complejidad debido a sus reducidas dimensiones. Así mismo, el estudio ha solucionado los elementos discordantes a través de tres materiales: la madera tintada en el tono del resto de la carpintería interior, el textil de esparto y el tejido verde de los asientos. En cuanto al cromatismo, el verde del mobiliario junto al azul del mosaico damero potencian los colores más usados en las viviendas de esta tipología de arquitectura valenciana.