The intervention consolidated the existing construction with new slabs and the exterior structure that acts as a buttress for the 8m high stone walls. The new slabs are planned with a mixed wood-concrete structure and integrate interior metal braces, making the two longitudinal stone walls work together.
For the building finishes, the architects proposed the use of "naked" materials with two objectives: to reduce execution costs and to maintain the building's historical memory.
Description of project by SAU Taller d'Arquitectura
The project is based on the premise of preserving the existing building of Can Biel, a construction from the late 19th century located in All, a town in La Cerdanya near the Pyrenees, transforming it into 4 houses.
It is a construction of stone walls and 4m spans, wrought iron in very poor condition and free heights incompatible with the intended uses. It is proposed to extend the section horizontally while preserving the existing volume. The result is a building approximately 40 meters long and with 2 floors. From this point of view, the intervention involves consolidating the existing construction through the new slabs and an exterior structure that acts as a buttress for the 8m-high stone walls.
The new slabs are planned with a mixed wood-concrete structure and integrate interior metal braces that link the two longitudinal stone walls.
Can Biel by SAU Taller d'Arquitectura. Photography by Andrés Flajszer.
The permeability of the retaining wall to the north is assumed in order to leave it visible. This decision makes it necessary to have surface collection on the ground floor and to manage the contact of structural and finishing elements against this wall.
As for the finishes, they work with “naked” materials and, essentially, dry construction materials; with the exception of the arrangements of the existing building, plastering of existing walls and jambs. The objective is twofold: On the one hand, to reduce execution costs, build and allocate resources only to what is essential; on the other hand, maintaining and revaluing the historical memory of the original building, since by changing to a light system it allows reading and differentiating the original elements from those of the intervention.
Can Biel by SAU Taller d'Arquitectura. Photography by Andrés Flajszer.
Finally, and with respect to the interior spaces, we find that, since it is such a small structural bay and with the aim of giving maximum amplitude and sensation of space, two basic strategies are used: First, fluff up and free the interior space in section , creating double and triple spaces; the second, to take advantage of all the existing openings and propose new ones, strategically placed towards the views and the sun. With this double strategy, it is guaranteed to lengthen the visuals and widen the sensation of interior space both horizontally and vertically.
