A Mountain House_Galapagar

A modest refurbishment of a family holiday home in the mountains outside Madrid.

Rather than extending beyond the house’s existing footprint, the project works with what is already there. The original granite façade is retained, establishing the basis for a careful transformation.

Small windows are replaced by larger, deeper openings. White concrete frames embrace the existing stonework, bringing additional daylight and views into the ground floor. Inside, the former rooms are combined into a generous living and cooking space, opening onto an enlarged porch conceived for outdoor life.

The house is designed to be lived in intensively throughout the summer while remaining securely closed during the colder, less hospitable months. Traditional white louvred shutters – mallorquinas – can completely seal the ground floor, providing protection and reinforcing the seasonal character of the house.

Above, the pitched roof is removed and replaced by a lightweight, glass-clad volume. Resting in deliberate contrast to the weight of the granite base, this new upper floor contains the bedrooms and a corner library overlooking the surrounding mountains.