The Young Old House: A Fusion of Rural and Urban Living
The Young Old House blends tradition and innovation, using sustainable materials and adaptive design to harmonize rural and urban living in Spain.
Nestled in the picturesque Sierra de Guadarrama, The Young Old House redefines the concept of rural living through a seamless blend of tradition and innovation. Designed by Enrique Espinosa and Lys Villalba, this renovation project transforms a 1970s summer house into a dynamic space that adapts to both its natural surroundings and contemporary needs.
Reimagining Rural Living
Cercedilla, located 57 km from Madrid, has witnessed a unique demographic shift—where urban dwellers embrace a rural lifestyle while maintaining strong city ties. This evolving rural-urban identity is central to The Young Old House, where coexistence between traditional farmers and new residents fosters a sustainable, self-sufficient ecology. Local cattle farmer Luis grazes his cows in the meadow, helping maintain the landscape while benefiting from fresh pasture—an organic symbiosis that underpins the project’s ethos.
Sustainable Transformation Through Phased Adaptation
After inheriting the house, Ana and Manolo, along with their four daughters, embarked on an ambitious journey to expand and upgrade it. Originally built without thermal insulation and disconnected from its surroundings, the house required three key design strategies:
- Expansion – Introducing three new volumes beneath the roof to house an extended living area, a new bedroom for the daughters (in the former garage and wood storage space), and a dedicated heating room.
- Structural Modification – Stone walls were strategically cut to install a metal framework with beams and tensioners, creating an open, fluid connection with the landscape.
- Material Reuse & Energy Efficiency – The original roof materials were salvaged and repurposed into custom furniture, minimizing waste and reinforcing the circular construction approach.
Layered Growth: A Home That Evolves Over Time
A unique aspect of the project is its phased transformation, ensuring sustainable adaptation with minimal waste. Sahari, a former mason and now a family employee, will disassemble and rebuild sections of the house each year, incorporating thermal insulation while reusing the original materials in a fresh, innovative pattern.
A Home Where Past Meets Future
In The Young Old House, every element tells a story. Beams from the old ceiling now serve as dining tables, railway sleepers form a long bench, and reclaimed shutters become doors. Even the slate from the former roof awaits its new role as a future façade. This seamless integration of heritage materials and modern adaptability turns the house into an ever-evolving entity.
Additionally, custom metal elements enhance the connection with nature—hidden doors lead directly into the countryside, rotating lamps illuminate outdoor dining in the meadow, and strategically placed portholes frame views of the changing landscape.
A Blueprint for Contemporary Rural-Urban Living
More than a renovation, The Young Old House embodies a new model of sustainable rural living, where architecture, environment, and community intertwine. By bridging tradition with innovation, the project challenges conventional notions of urban vs. rural, proving that thoughtful design can create a harmonious, self-sustaining future.
