Contemporary architecture is increasingly faced with the challenge of working on existing fabric. The traditional conservationist approach, while protecting the historic substance, often leads to it being frozen in time. At the same time, a lack of sensitivity to the historic layers of buildings for decades has resulted in the irreversible loss of many structures. Faced with this phenomenon, Casa Castelar near Madrid becomes an example of a new approach in which memory and modernisation go hand in hand.
Conservation through transformation
Casa Castelar originated as part of the Madrid Moderno estate, built in the late 19th century on the outskirts of the Spanish capital. The complex originally comprised 96 houses, designed according to the ideas of a garden city. Only fourteen have survived to this day. The project to renovate one of these buildings was a response to its poor state of repair. It was necessary to replace almost the entire structure, while preserving the façade. The authors of the project from the Solar studio decided to recreate not only the appearance, but also the original spatial logic of the house. Secondary extensions were removed, allowing the 1890 L-shaped projection to be restored. Within it, a new functional layout was organised, with rooms arranged around an internal courtyard.
Balance of tradition and innovation
The restoration of the front façade was carried out using classic conservationist techniques. Handmade joinery, traditional craftsmanship methods and working with original templates required time and precision. In contrast to this wall, the rear façade was created, designed as a modern plane, using large glazing and panels of recycled perforated aluminium. Their digital processing allowed for precision craftsmanship and simple installation. The juxtaposition of these two approaches creates a coherent, yet differentiated composition. The building presents itself differently from the street side and from the garden side, symbolically combining material testimony to the past with an openness to the future.
Transformation in a sustainable spirit
The design of Casa Castelar aimed to make maximum use of the existing substance as an energy and material resource. In addition to preserving the key elements of the building, a number of bioclimatic solutions were introduced. These include new thermal insulation, replacement of joinery, installation of aerothermal systems and improved cross ventilation. As a result, energy consumption has been reduced by more than 70 per cent. This approach confirms that transforming historic buildings can not only protect their cultural value, but also fit into an ethic of ecological responsibility.
Project: Solar (Pablo Canga Ana Herreros)
Photography: Adrià Goula
Also read: single-family house | Spain | renovation | whiteMAD on Instagram
