Modia, a whim on the block by Orza paisajismo

Recovering the environment of a rural house and reuse of the stables as an outdoor room.

Context

The intervention takes place in the surroundings of a rural house that forms part of a traditional eira (an eira, in galician language, is an uncovered space, generally flat and close to the house, used for as threshing floor, for the cereals and separating the grain from the straw).
In the 1970s, a series of stables and warehouses were added adjacent to the house. Currently unused, these later additions are visually dominant, obscuring the original house and disrupting the spatial and architectural balance of the eira.

The owner’s intention was to recover the estate’s original character, prior to the construction of these secondary structures.

Objectives

The project is guided by three equally important goals:
To enhance the value of the built heritage and its relationship with the surrounding landscape, restoring the architectural harmony of the eira.

To create an outdoor living space that feels integrated with the house—a place of comfort, rest, and enjoyment for the owner.

To achieve a seamless integration between architecture and landscape, both visually and physically—especially from the outside looking in, while also opening the property toward the valley.

Additionally, the intervention sought to preserve the recent history of the site and respect the emotional connection the owner has with space. Although the stables were disruptive to the original balance, they once formed part of the estate’s agricultural economy and helped maintain its residential use. In this sense, they are part of its cultural legacy. As such, the design approach favored partial demolition—preserving the footprint and memory of the stables, rather than erasing them.

Design Strategy

The intervention area includes five structures: two stable volumes and three attached warehouses. These were constructed with concrete block or brick masonry, concrete pillars, timber or prefabricated concrete beams, and fiber cement roofs.

The main stable block (169 m²) was transformed into an open-air room, an exterior extension of the house. This new patio is a calm, luminous space with panoramic views and lush vegetation, which will eventually grow to embrace the remaining walls. A small pool with a cascading spout serves as a centerpiece, adding movement and sound. The result is a peaceful haven, deeply connected to the house and reinforcing the architectural and emotional value of the eira.

These are the key elements of the transformation:
• The original concrete floor was retained, with openings cut for planting and the 5.5 x 3.6 m pool.
• Walls were preserved up to 2.2 meters, maintaining the memory of the original enclosure.
• Existing window and door openings were respected.
• One wall was fully removed to open views from the house and integrate the new patio into the eira.
The three warehouse buildings, each with earthen floors, were demolished and converted into garden spaces, facilitating a stronger visual and spatial integration with the surrounding landscape, and improving internal circulation.

The fifth building, located furthest from the house, was retained. This small, open shed—traditionally used for drying clothes—is now an independent structure under a large cedar tree. Its handmade brick latticework adds visual interest, especially at night when illuminated by soft ornamental lighting.
The landscaping intervention has completely transformed the outdated space, once used for milking cows, into a unique, bright space surrounded by lush vegetation that, over time, will envelop the walls and further integrate the structure with its natural surroundings. This new haven of peace is seamlessly connected to the main house, enhancing not only the architecture of both the house and the barn but also strengthening the relationship between the built environment and the surrounding landscape.

• Project typology:
Rural heritage

• Other credits:

Gardening: Tierra y Jardín
Demolitions and civil works: Excavaciones Midón SL
Pool: Poolthink
Plant nursery: Borrazás
Photography: Marcos Morilla

• Location of the project

Galicia, Spain

Size: 2,289 m²

Rural Housing
Completed: 2021–2022

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