How to approach the rehabilitation of a historic stone complex respecting its essence

Confronting the rehabilitation of a historic property in Galicia, such as Casa-en-Abadín, is an exciting challenge. It is not just about "fixing a house", but about entering into a dialogue with the past. The robust stone walls, the slate roofs, the centuries-old beams... everything tells a story. The key for the new owner is how to adapt that story to the 21st century without erasing its chapters.

From our experience and observation of successful projects in the area, a good rehabilitation should maintain a balance between three pillars: conservation of character, energy efficiency, and functional adaptation.

1. Validating the pre-existences: reading the building

Before designing or distributing, you have to "listen" to the house. In complexes like this one, built with traditional criteria, the orientation and openings had a logic: protect from the north wind, seek the southern sun, keep the grain dry.

A frequent error is trying to impose an urban standard on a rural structure. Instead, the smartest thing is to identify what elements are fundamental: the stone fireplace (lareira), the stone sink, the partition walls, the chestnut beams. In Casa-en-Abadín, the preservation of the stone structure is excellent, which allows focusing the investment on conditioning rather than structural reconstruction.

2. Materials: stone, wood, and lime

The essence of the Galician rural house is in its materials. In rehabilitation, the rule of thumb is usually: execute whatever is new with sincerity, but respect the original wherever possible.

• Stone: the granite walls are the soul. Cleaning and repointing them with lime mortar (allowing the wall to breathe) is essential. Avoiding cement on stone prevents humidity problems in the future.
• Wood: Chestnut is the wood par excellence in Galicia. Recovering original beams by cleaning and treating them gives an incomparable warmth. For new carpentry, maintaining solid wood ensures continuity.
• Roof: Slate is the skin of the house. Revising the structure and insulation of the roof is usually the priority number one investment to ensure a healthy house.

3. The challenge of comfort: thermal insulation

Can an old stone house be warm? Absolutely. But it requires strategy. Stone has a lot of thermal inertia (it takes time to heat up and cool down), but it is not a great insulator.

The tendency in quality rehabilitations is to insulate from the inside or creating a "box within a box", respecting the visible stone on the outside. Underfloor heating works very well combined with biomass (pellets, wood) or aerothermal energy, as it maintains a constant temperature that warms the stone mass.

4. Space distribution: opening the light

Traditional houses used to be compartmentalized to conserve heat. Today we look for light and fluidity. Without altering the load-bearing walls, spaces can be communicated. The old stables (ground floors) often become spectacular living rooms or integrated kitchens connected to the garden.

In Casa-en-Abadín, the amplitude of the annexed buildings (barn) offers a blank canvas to create diaphanous spaces impossible to find in a conventional house: a double-height studio, a library, or a room for events.

5. The dialogue with the exterior

Finally, rehabilitation does not end at the door. The immediate environment, the paved eras, the porches, and the access to the estate are part of the daily experience.

Recovering the "alpendres" as covered outdoor transition areas allows enjoying the Galician landscape even on rainy days. Integrating the garden with the house, opening visual axes from the interior towards the meadows of Terra Chá, multiplies the sensation of space.

Rehabilitating is, in short, an act of respect and creativity. It is taking a legacy of stone and giving it a new life full of comfort, light, and future.