A craftmanship work. Casa de los gigantes by Iterare arquitectos

Project description by Iterare arquitectos

Located in Valencia ́s famous fishermans neightborhood of El Cabañal, The house of the Giants sets itself as a singular construction on this historical area. Its innovation, far from using in vogue solutions completely out of context and place, comes from the deep update of the history that takes place in this building. Without oversimplifying or stylizing, the task was to bring up with an updated contemporary proposition, all those materials and construction techniques of the Mediterranean, those of the local people and local industry, efficient and responsible, those that stood the test and weight of time with great dignity.

And so all over the house natural stone from the area, earthy lime plaster, reclaimed wood from the very building, and other such materials and traditional techniques are used though with a contemporary understanding of them, not being a call to the past but a hint to the future.

It was a kind of precedent aiming to update the built heritage of the neighborhood, thus preparing it for its future; without overwriting, insulting or perverting any of the aspects of its past.

Spatially, the interior staircase connecting each level is, with no doubt, the key element of the house. Traveling it becomes a sensual experience; walking through a cave completely covered with natural stone, rich in reflections, light and shadows over the walls and steps.

On the facade, the owner, also a local artist engraver, will give the house its name, for his work in the shape of figures of Giants, is engraved on the stone and glass.

This way the house links itself with those ancient buildings still present on the area, with a symbolism in decoration that was part of their owners particular persona.