Paratgea, a farmhouse in Spain

Architectural Update to Traditional Catalan Country Cottage

Architects Santiago Roqueta and Pilar Cos have transformed the property’s traditional spaces into welcoming common areas, including the living room and library, a modern farm-to-table kitchen for prepping homegrown, seasonal produce, a bright, open, co-working space perfect for a small team, and an elegant hall/entertaining area under a vaulted ceramic ceiling. The hall was added to the traditional Catalan farmhouse in 1842, and its arching ceiling is a showpiece of local architectural tradition that can be made into a reception/entertainment hall that opens to the garden.

Set in a 47-acre oak forest, the farmhouse, once a single-family property, features four, elegantly appointed, exposed brick-and-stone bedrooms and two larger suites that incorporate small living spaces, one with two balconies. Sustainability is a guiding pillar, and the farmhouse’s indoor spaces are heated via biomass burning locally cut wood. The house runs on and produces solar energy, winning Spanish Eurosolar distinction over 20 years ago. Rainwater collection and the tapping of local springs provides the property’s water, and all wastewater is filtered and purified and returned to the dense forest for regeneration.

Around

The farmhouse is immersed in an oak and chestnut forest, with foot (or bike) paths cut through it. Wildlife roams the local woods, and bird life is abundant as well. With proximity to several natural parks and within striking distance from the coast, the house makes for a great country getaway with a focus on outdoor recreation. Both Montnegre and Corredor Natural Parks are accessible on foot, bike, or horseback from the property through huge stands of oaks, with fantastic views of the valley. The property is in the Alella DO wine region, land of pansa blanca wines, and visits to cellars and tasting rooms is a favorite way to visit the rural area.

One of Catalonia’s best-known beers is produced in the region and the Sant Jordi brewery is less than five kilometers from the property. The beaches of the Maresme Coastline are only a 20-minute drive, with popular Mediterranean swim spots nearby including Sant Pol de Mar, Llavaneres, and Caldetes. Both Barcelona and Girona are within an hour of the farmhouse, offering the abundance of thriving urban areas and tourism centers.