Abandoned stable becomes off-grid, luxurious family dream home
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- čas přidán 29. 01. 2012
- When Carlos Alonso and his sister Camino (partners at Madrid architecture firm Ábaton) were looking for a country home for their extended family, they stumbled upon an abandoned stable in rural Extremadura, Spain, and recognized it as a special place.
High on a hill and far from city water or an electrical grid, the crumbling cow shed was far from the conventional image of luxury estate, but Carlos and Camino could envision a transformation.
This part of the province of Cáceres (near the Portuguese border) has been home to generations of cattle ranchers and the Alonsos recognized the wisdom of those who came before them.
Building on the instinctual knowledge of the ranchers before them, the Alonsos preserved much of the old stable. The old watering trough became a fountain and interior patio where water now helps cool the home in summer. The hayloft above became bedrooms. The facade is still the original stone, though, given the home's crumbling state, they were forced to add cement behind it.
Without access to the grid, the Alonsos added photovoltaics and hydropower, and worked to ensure the home wouldn't use much energy. The original position of the stable worked in their favor. The southern exposure allows for the sun to be the main source of heat during the winter.
The Alonsos also added large wooden shutters that slide closed like a second skin, covering the large windows at night to trap in most of the home's daily solar heat gain.
The home was located far from city water, but perfectly positioned below two streams that flow year-round. Since there is no one else above the home on the mountain, the water is pure and can be used for drinking and bathing (after a simple filter and rest period).
Greywater is purified and the water is put back to use on the property for watering the fields. On those fields, cattle still graze.
Even local rancher José Vicente Jiménez, whose family has worked this land for generations, is still here. His cattle graze the property and he clearly is pleased the Alonsos have rescued the old stable from certain ruin.
On *faircompanies: faircompanies.com/videos/view/...
Ábaton Architecture: www.abaton.es/es
Furniture by batavia.es
If you think them drinking water from that stream is bad, look into how water is treated before its sent to your home. Theres alot more harmful things in that i assure you.
The house is obviously the work of professional architects and not the standard "do it yourselfer".
This house is gorgeous and uplifting. What an outstanding eco house. Everybody should build like that to make the Earth become a paradise.
Their philosophy of nature and life...I love it. They seem like the kind of people you meet and have dinner and a dip in the pool and talk about history and astronomy. My kinda people.
One of the most impressive off the grid home I have seen so far.
To say that I'm jealous is an understatement
They respect Mother Earth & she provides for their needs.
This was unbelievably beautiuful.....thank you for allowing us to see what paradise on earth can look like :)
World needs more thoughtful people like this
i think this house will rejuvenate you while you live in it and gets emotionally healthy and thus physically healthy at the same time.
One of the most gorgeous houses I've ever seen!
Must be an amazing, peaceful place to live.. I feel more relaxed just from looking at it
Great restoration, there are so many abandoned properties in rural Spain which is such a shame. Hopefully more people will be inspired to do what this family have done.
This is my favorite off the grid home !!!!!
Never seen anything like this before in my life. Everything in this home works with it's surroundings. They have everything they need to live off the land and off grid. Well done, I am very jealous of both of you in a nice way. :-) Scotland has same nature as well, but with lots of wind and snow.
I love the farmers attitude, I love the brothers and sisters attitude, there is so much we can learn from people like these... and their love and respect for what's around them is why they are truly blessed with a property as special as this one. Thank you for sharing their wisdom and wonderful home with us 💞
A total master piece, a perfect balance of nature and architecture, I spend a lot time watching videos of houses and construction, to find ideas and this one left me speechless. Water all over, pure water, you can take a shower and drink the same water, awesome.
this is one of the most beautiful homes I have ever seen! so well thought out coupled with a very small carbon footprint is just how we all should be thiniking when it comes to our homes. BELLA!!!
Aww..this reminds me of my grandma's farm...so untouched and peaceful
I adore this home. I love how they were working with nature. Brilliant.