The house in Turís, Spain, has been linked to Nilda’s family for generations. Its interior has been given a new lease of life thanks to a design by Jose Costa. The architect treated the interior as a space where memory and the present can coexist without conflict – respecting history, yet fully mindful of contemporary needs.
The main part of the building, covering almost 300 square metres, had to accommodate two distinct uses: the everyday life of one or two people, and summer gatherings of a multi-generational family. It was this dual function that became the starting point for the project. The architect viewed the house as a place that had evolved over the decades – from the time Nilda’s grandparents rented it in 1941, through the years when it served as a village doctor’s surgery, right up to the period when it became a holiday home.
The house’s two-part structure
The original architecture consisted of two distinctly separate parts. The front section, facing the street, retained its original character: a brick façade, wooden joinery and a tiled roof. Costa opted for a subtle restoration – the entrance gate was refurbished, the wooden windows were restored, and the original tiles and floors were carefully preserved and reused. This part of the house now serves as the guest wing, housing five bedrooms and three bathrooms, providing comfortable accommodation for a large family.
A new lease of life for the garden side
The other half of the house, facing the garden, required much more extensive work. This is where the main living areas are located: the living room, dining room, kitchen and the owner’s suite. Due to the progressive deterioration of this part of the building, it was necessary to replace the roofs and sections of the structure. The architect opened up the façade towards the garden, strengthening the connection between the interior and the greenery, which has always been an important feature of this property.
A key change was the creation of a new patio above the kitchen. The glazed courtyard acts as an internal garden, bringing light deep into the layout and creating a natural focal point. Next to it, a new staircase has been added – an element connecting both parts of the house, whilst also establishing a visual dialogue between the areas.
Spaces for work and relaxation
The design also incorporated additional features tailored to the owner’s contemporary lifestyle. In the garden, a small pavilion once built by her grandfather – formerly a reading room, now transformed into a leisure area – was restored. A small swimming pool, inspired by traditional irrigation reservoirs, has also been added, as well as a painting studio, which allows for creative work in direct contact with the garden.
The interiors designed by Jose Costa draw on the past. The architect treated the house’s history as the foundation upon which the contemporary space is built. Preserved materials, restored details and a deliberate openness to the garden create the atmosphere of a place that has matured over decades. At the same time, new features – the patio, the reorganisation of the functional layout, and the introduction of light and transparency – lend the house a sense of lightness and modernity.
design: Jose Costa ARQ
photographs: Mariela Apollonio,www.fotografadearquitectura.com
See also: Detached house | Spain | History | Interiors | Recommended | whiteMAD on Instagram
