The studio Taller d´Arquitectura SAU organizes the four main spaces from below and from south to north around the era. In the south of the plot, the bedrooms and the living room are located to take advantage of the solar radiation, while in the northern area, the staircase and the bathrooms act as thermal mattresses. On the ground floor, the day areas are linked to the outside space in relation to the environment, reserving the covered ground floor for spaces for night use.
The pre-existing construction dialogues with the new construction systems of laminated wood, allowing the new wooden structure slab and the new cover to brace the original stone walls. The new roof with rock wool insulation uses cross ventilation thanks to the hollow openings in the stone walls. In addition, a system of geothermal wells and radiant earth is used to take advantage of the thermal inertia of the stone walls.
Cal Gall by Taller SAU. Photograph by Andrés Flajszer.
Project description by Taller d´Arquitectura SAU
The house and farmhouses of Cal Gall, built in the 19th century, have been transformed by Taller SAU and reinvented with the aim of promoting the family's heritage.
Four spaces are organised around the courtyard: from bottom to top and from south to north. On the ground floor we find the day area, connected to the outdoor space while the upper floor serves as the nighttime area. To the south, the main rooms (living room and bedrooms) benefit from solar radiation, and to the north, the staircase and bathrooms act as a thermal cushion and bring together the facilities.
The wooden structure of the new floor slab and the new roof reinforce the stone walls and strengthen the ensemble of buildings. Traditional construction is combined with the new systems of plywood and dry construction.
Taking advantage of the high groundwater level, the whole complex is heated through a system of geothermal wells and underfloor heating, which guarantees the use of the thermal inertia of the stone walls and provides hot water in an almost natural way. Furthermore, the new roof, with 28 cm rock wool insulation, and the cross ventilation provided by opening new openings in the stone walls, allows the building to perform exceptionally well in both summer and winter with a minimum of external energy input. This is a clear commitment to low energy consumption.
