Renovation of the Priorat by Atienza Maure Arquitectos – Historic Spanish Mansion Restoration

The Renovation of the Priorat by Atienza Maure Arquitectos in Trespaderne, Spain is a masterful example of historic preservation and residential renovation, transforming a 16th-century Castilian mansion destroyed by fire in 2011. The restoration carefully retained the building’s original stone walls, vaulted staircase, and voussoirs of collapsed arches, while reimagining the space for modern living. Once the residence of the prior of the Monastery of Oña, the mansion’s historic architecture is now fully revitalized with thoughtful contemporary interventions.

Context and Approach

Before the renovation, the mansion’s north façade was partially buried by the uneven street, leaving the ground floor dark and uninhabitable, without natural light or a connection to the southern orchard. The architects prioritized introducing daylight into the interior while preserving the historic stone façades. They implemented five skylights that cut through intermediate floors, illuminating two large atriums and the parallel staircase system, which integrates the original stone with new steel and concrete stairs of matching width. This approach creates dynamic sequences of spaces across multiple levels, framed by stone and concrete arches, where light and materiality interplay seamlessly.

Duality of Materials and Structural Dialogue

The renovation embraces the duality between old and new, preserving the memory of the ruin while adding contemporary elements. Non-historic interventions are treated as light steel and wood structures, designed with tension and compression systems that echo the original masonry. Guided by the principle of architect as mason, inspired by Adolf Loos, the project maintains a constant dialogue with local craftsmen, blending traditional techniques with modern construction methods.

Phenomenological Experience

The Priorat Mansion is more than a restored home—it is a phenomenological house that multiplies routes, fosters cross-views, and encourages exploration. Its open spatial quality allows inhabitants to continually reinterpret the space, offering a playful, hedonistic experience while respecting the mansion’s historic essence. Every corner, staircase, and atrium invites discovery, making the home adaptable, engaging, and timeless.

All Photographs are works of Simone Bossi