The Mill House by Estudio Vilablanch: A Sensitive Restoration of a Historic Hydraulic Mill in La Vilella Baixa

A Contemporary Home Rooted in History and Landscape

The Mill House by Estudio Vilablanch is a meticulous restoration and adaptive reuse project that transforms a 16th-century hydraulic mill in La Vilella Baixa, Spain, into a serene 200 m² contemporary residence. Set on a generous 3,000 m² plot surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, the home stands along the historic Lloá road near the Montsant River, embracing the quiet agricultural landscape that shaped its past. The architects, Agnès Blanch and Elina Vilá, approached the project with profound respect for the site’s heritage, maintaining the essence of the old mill while crafting a warm, modern dwelling connected seamlessly to nature.

Preservation of a Protected Heritage Site

With its official BCIL designation (Cultural Asset of Local Interest), the mill required a highly sensitive approach to conservation and restoration. The building consists of two distinct historical layers: the 16th-century hydraulic mill, originally used for paper production and later repurposed for oil manufacturing, and the accompanying family residence; and a 19th-century octagonal Mudejar-inspired tower that once supplied water to the mill. This combination of eras shaped the architectural identity of the site, and maintaining these defining elements was fundamental to the project’s integrity.

A Respectful Restoration Guided by Research and Memory

Extensive historical research informed the restoration strategy, allowing the architects to preserve the mill’s exterior character while revitalizing its interior spaces. Original architectural features were carefully recovered and showcased, and the volume of the building was subtly expanded through a thoughtful intervention: excavating the former water channel of the mill. This expansion allowed the designers to reconfigure interior circulation without altering the protected exterior envelope.

Internal Connections Through the Old Water Channel

One of the greatest challenges—and achievements—of the project was internally connecting the mill residence to the 19th-century tower. As the tower had no interior access in its original configuration, the architects had to develop a solution that respected the building’s protected status. They excavated a vertical shaft and a small horizontal passage along the course of the historic water channel, enabling a continuous interior circulation route. Within this newly carved void, they installed a sculptural spiral staircase that fluidly links all levels and provides direct access to the tower. This gesture not only unifies the home spatially but also symbolizes a reconnection with the mill’s original functional core.

A Fluid and Contemporary Spatial Composition

The renewed layout distributes the program across multiple levels while maintaining a soft, minimal expression that amplifies the textures of stone, wood, and natural light. The ground floor houses a bedroom and accessible bathroom intentionally located in the mill’s former grinding room, accompanied by a living area and compact kitchen suitable for residents with reduced mobility. The first floor accommodates the main sleeping quarters, including a master suite, an additional bedroom, and a separate bathroom. The attic level offers a flexible multipurpose space. The tower contains a spacious kitchen that opens to a luminous living area situated in the old lookout, framing sweeping views of the village and surrounding landscape.

Craftsmanship, Sustainability, and Manual Construction

The restoration emphasizes sustainability and low impact, relying exclusively on manual construction methods without the use of heavy machinery. Natural materials and local craftsmanship guide the architectural expression, while the home incorporates systems that minimize environmental footprint. Solar panels ensure energy self-sufficiency, underground water is utilized for domestic needs, and a Canadian well system provides natural climate regulation. These strategies enable the historic structure to function as a comfortable 21st-century residence while honoring the ecological wisdom embedded in traditional architecture.

A Harmonious Dialogue Between Past and Present

The Mill House by Estudio Vilablanch stands as an example of how heritage architecture can be revived through sensitive design, technical ingenuity, and deep respect for cultural memory. By weaving contemporary living needs into the mill’s storied fabric, the architects created a home that feels timeless, grounded, and fully integrated with its rural Catalonian context.

All photographs are works of  Eugeni Pons