sheep barn in spain transforms into family home preserving original brick-clad arches

sheep barn in spain transforms into family home preserving original brick-clad arches

the renovation of Can Gori retains Catalan farmhouse typology

 

Can Gori, a project by Paola Bagna & Jonas Labbe, transforms a former sheep and hay barn in Catalonia into a family home. The design adheres to the original materiality and construction elements, achieving a rhythm in its spaces with secluded rooms reminiscent of Catalan farmhouses and more expansive areas.

 

The barn, dating back to 1930, is carefully renovated while preserving its unique features, including a semicircular south facade with large openings and a wooden doorway for agricultural machinery. Following the client’s vision, the layout creates a light-filled, open plan with loft-like proportions. To enhance natural light and ventilation, an entrance patio is introduced, symbolically recovering the space once used for machinery. The original south facade is of handmade brick while the north facade composes a thick stone wall. A single-pitched tile roof tops the structure.

sheep barn in spain transforms into family home preserving original brick-clad arches
all images by Arnau Rovira

 

 

Handmade Brick, Stone, and Reused Tiles Meet Modern Elements

 

The outdoor area connects visually and spatially with the living room and multi-purpose space on the ground floor. The two-story layout organizes common family spaces and a multi-purpose work area on the ground floor, while bedrooms are situated on the first floor, opening onto the patio and the original semicircular facade. The stone wall of the north facade is thermally insulated, preserving its original materiality, and a double-height space in the kitchen-dining area emphasizes the unique semicircular geometry.

 

The design team reintroduces the typology of these geometric arches within the interior spaces. The feature is present in new interior openings and partitions in the form of a quarter of a circle which incorporates a new structural pillar. Original materials, such as handmade brick, stone, and reused tiles, are juxtaposed with new materials like ceramic tiles, oak, white lacquered metal, and poplar wood, creating a modern space that honors the building’s history. The project boasts an interplay of materials, geometries, light, textures, and a harmonious blend of past and present, resulting in a comfortable home deeply connected to its surroundings and the heritage of the Catalan farmhouse.

sheep barn in spain transforms into family home preserving original brick-clad arches
a former sheep and hay barn in Catalonia turns into a family home

sheep barn in spain transforms into family home preserving original brick-clad arches
the semicircular south facade with large openings and wooden doorway are preserved

sheep barn in spain transforms into family home preserving original brick-clad arches
to enhance natural light and ventilation, an entrance patio is introduced

renovation-sheep-hay-barn-home-spain-paola-bagna-jonas-labbe-designboom-1800-2

the renovation reintroduces the typology of geometric arches within the interior spaces

sheep barn in spain transforms into family home preserving original brick-clad arches
interior openings and partitions form a quarter of a circle incorporating a new structural pillar

sheep barn in spain transforms into family home preserving original brick-clad arches
the interplay of materials, geometries, light, textures creates a harmonious blend of past and present

sheep barn in spain transforms into family home preserving original brick-clad arches
original brick and stone are juxtaposed with new materials like ceramic tiles, oak, and white lacquered metal

renovation-sheep-hay-barn-home-spain-paola-bagna-jonas-labbe-designboom-1800-3

the two-story layout organizes common family spaces and a multi-purpose work area

 

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a double-height space in the kitchen-dining area emphasizes the unique semicircular geometry
a double-height space in the kitchen-dining area emphasizes the unique semicircular geometry
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project info:

 

name: Can Gori
architect: Paola Bagna Architect | @paola_bagna

lead architects: Paola Bagna & Jonas Labbe

location: Peralada, Alt Emporda, Spain

photography: Arnau Rovira | @arnauroviravidal

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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