Recovering a building with 50 years – half housing, half barn. The aim is to maintain existing memories from a space that, once, was the stage to such varied experiences – rural stories mixed with stories of young people from a controversial time. In the presence of such a special place, as the barn, is chosen to protect it and elect it as the protagonist of the new home of a young growing family. A single new element is inserted in this space, almost like a furniture piece, that idea is accentuated by its own materiality – painted OSB. With a very small budget (the other goal), it is essential to create a compact element, bringing together all the new functions – kitchen, toilets, storage and staircase.

This “furniture” is fundamental in the compartmentalization of the social area of the ground floor, dividing the space between entrance area, living room, dining area and kitchen. The top floor, which served in other times, for drying grain, is overlooking the social area and works as a retreat space and working area.

The materialization of this piece would have to be made from something that, at the same time, would have a structural role and would help me to communicate easily this idea of furniture. The choice of using OSB, an ecological and economic material, was quite easy, due to its structural characteristics and its plasticity. I knew, that with this material I could make all the single elements from this model – walls, doors, kitchen and storage cabinets, stairs and even the floor on the top of the model. I used the type 3 of OSB, that can support high levels of humidity – an important detail when you want to use it in humid areas. It was important, for me, to create a visual contrast between the floor (in portuguese pine) and the white walls and roof, but it was also important to assume the texture of the wood. The black color on OSB boards helped me at this point.

Design Team | Inês Brandão Arquitectura