House 1627: Reconstructing Vernacular Memory Through Mass, Sequence, and Landscape

Located in Pals, Spain, within the agricultural landscape of Baix Empordà, House 1627 by HARQUITECTES is a powerful reinterpretation of a historic farmhouse. Built upon the ruins of Mas Geli, where only fragments such as stone façades, buttresses, and vaulted spaces remained, the project reconstructs both the physical and cultural essence of vernacular architecture while embracing contemporary techniques and living patterns. 

Rather than restoring the farmhouse as a replica, the architects chose to work with its memory, retaining key elements and reimagining the rest. The surviving stone façades on the north and east are carefully preserved and reinforced, maintaining their material authenticity and compositional integrity. In contrast, the missing portions on the south and west are rebuilt using massive cyclopean concrete walls that incorporate stones from the original ruins. This approach creates a dialogue between past and present, where continuity is achieved through material reuse and reinterpretation.

The spatial organization follows the logic of traditional farmhouses, structured as a sequence of rooms defined by thick load-bearing walls. This orthogonal grid of spaces creates a rhythm of enclosed volumes, each with a distinct character yet connected within a coherent whole. Structural vaults, both preserved stone and newly constructed concrete, reinforce this sense of continuity, blending historical techniques with modern construction.

The roof plays a unifying role in the composition. Reconstructed with a timber structure and traditional tiles, it restores the original proportions and dual-pitched form of the farmhouse. Inside, the exposed wooden framework adds warmth and texture, contrasting with the solidity of the concrete and stone walls.

At the heart of the house lies the kitchen, a large double-height space that acts as both a functional and social center. Positioned at the southwest corner, it opens toward the vineyard and connects directly to the garden and pond. Designed to host gatherings, tastings, and daily family life, this space embodies the communal spirit of rural living while accommodating contemporary needs.

Extending from the kitchen is an L-shaped porch that strengthens the relationship between the house and its surroundings. This semi-exterior space mediates between interior and landscape, providing shade, controlling sunlight, and enabling outdoor activities. It frames views toward the vineyards and the distant town of Pals, while also opening to the southern garden and pool.

The project is defined by two intersecting spatial sequences that organize movement and perception. One axis runs from south to north, linking the pond, garden, porch, kitchen, interior rooms, and ultimately the distant Montgrí landscape. The other runs from east to west, connecting views of the Mediterranean and the Medes Islands to the vineyards and sunset beyond. These sequences transform the house into a device for experiencing the territory, where architecture frames and intensifies the surrounding landscape.

Materiality is central to the project’s environmental performance. The thick concrete walls, poured in layers and lightened with insulating aggregates, provide significant thermal mass. This inertia, combined with controlled openings and compact volumes, creates a passive climate system that maintains comfort with minimal energy use. The design draws directly from traditional farmhouse strategies, where mass and orientation regulate temperature naturally.

Additional systems enhance this passive approach. A geothermal radiant floor provides efficient heating, while in summer, cooled air is introduced through the building’s structure, reducing the need for mechanical cooling. Together, these strategies create a highly efficient and self-sufficient living environment.

Ultimately, House 1627 is not just a reconstruction, but a reinterpretation of rural architecture. It bridges history and modernity, preserving the essence of the farmhouse while adapting it to contemporary life. Through its use of mass, sequence, and material continuity, the project creates a home that is deeply rooted in its landscape: an architecture that remembers, evolves, and endures.

All the Photographs are works of Adrià Goula