An old farmstead adapted to the needs of modernity. A typical old highland farmstead, consisting of 4 buildings, was built by a family of highlanders at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Since the last resident left, the buildings stood empty and decayed for 15 years. The investor asked us to look into the subject, what could be done with it. His dream was a habitat, a symbolic and private place where he, his family and friends could come and enjoy the charms of nature while actively having fun and relaxing.
While visiting this place, we appreciated its unique character and atmosphere created by such simple things as characteristic farm buildings carefully built from local, local limestone (an old quarry operates nearby) and facade boards carved in highland patterns. Additionally, the layout of individual buildings in relation to the whole was legible and at the same time constituted an artistic functional composition at the level of 2D projection (flat composition) and 3D dimension (spatial composition). Each of these buildings was also a “gem” in itself. For example, since the original owner was a blacksmith, you could visit an old forge with an unburned hearth or admire the perfectly laid limestone on the walls of the residential house and barn. All of this was beautiful in itself.
After arriving at the site, our team came up with the idea to dismantle the buildings due to the poor condition of the existing building fabric, but first perform a thorough manual inventory. We did not want to disturb the local “genius loci” but unfortunately the condition of the buildings was so deplorable that it posed a threat to people’s health. For this reason, during the demolition, the investor ordered the most impressive wooden boards and all the stone from the demolished walls of the buildings to be secured so that the recovered materials could then be used to cover new buildings.
We decided that in order for the project to be fresh and modern, it was not necessary to recreate the old farmstead 100%. From the main house, the entire part on level -1 was designed in accordance with the previous state, while what was placed on a stone pedestal is often referred to as a “barn house” with a symmetrical gable roof and hidden eaves gutters. This form is complemented by characteristic graphite sliding window sets and long skylights. The whole is clad in delicately burned and stained wood in Japanese style. The interior is bright and spacious with steel stairs and a lot of glazing. The ground floor was designed for daily needs, while the attic is a place for board games, “table football” and PlayStation. Going down to the basement, we can go to the old part of the building, where a wine cellar was located under the arched vault. There is also a recreated bread oven and on the walls hang old rural peasant attributes such as millet, harness tools, old cabbage slicers, etc. In a separate room there is a cellar for spirits and liqueurs. Here you can also go to part of the glass corridor connecting the main house with the old barn. Along this corridor on level -1 we have created a bowling alley. Going to the SPA part located under the barn you can watch bowlers throwing balls on the track next to them and knocking down the pieces – awesome 🙂
The barn contains the entire SPA part with wet and dry saunas, a large jacuzzi and a swimming pool with countercurrent. All of this is equipped with a bar with the possibility of grilling and preparing live meals (open kitchen). Among the old, fragrant wood you can organize parties, events and sessions. For those who want to feel the real magic of sauna, there is a terrace with an ice barrel and jacuzzi by the barn. Under the wooden roof we have designed a mezzanine intended for a small gym and yoga space, of course with panoramic glazing of the surrounding hills. By the saunarium there is also a room with a large home cinema and seats like in such a real city facility.
The barn houses rooms for family members and visitors. This approach is dictated by the “highest” privacy of this part of the settlement. The apartments have windows facing the surrounding area and there is nothing else in front of them. All the elevations have been covered with the same stone as the original barn.
In the former forge, the owners will one day set up a motorcycle workshop with old-school speakers and a lot of different tools 🙂
To sum up: it will be a unique and charming place!