The building located at No. 8, Calle Rica, where the projesct began, is a two-story, 2,691 square foot house.

AFTER RESTORATION

Originally, the first floor was composed of a sitting room outfitted with a hypocaust (a heating system invented by Romans), a kitchen, and a winepress that was used to make wine with grapes grown on the properTY. AII of these structures have been preserved.

The second floor, where there were once bedrooms and grain storerooms, has been renoved to include a small living space for the museaum’s caretaker, a painting studio with a large skylight, and, over the old winepress, a room reserved fot future painting workshops.

AFTER RESTORATION

In the year 2000, we acquired and began to renovate the property across the street, a 5,382 square foot amalgamation of three dilapidated houses, each with its own unique characterístics.

BEFORE

AFTER

The previous owner had only occupied a small part of the property, leaving the remaining portian, which had in the past been used to house cattle, in disuse. In the renovation process, we expanded rooms, leaving in place the load bearing walls, and placed manufactured columns where extra support was needed.

ln some areas of the second story, the floor was removed allow sunlight to light floor.

As a part of the restoration we removed sections of the second floor in order tol et natural light enter and illuminate spaces on the first floor. For aesthetic and structural reasons, the floor and ceiling heights in some romos were left their original levels. The original layout of the second floor has largely been retained, only varying the floor and ceiling heights when their structural integrity was compromised.

BEFORE

AFTER

As a result of these improvements, we have created a variety of spaces filled natural light from above. For aesthetic and structural reasons, the floor and ceiling heights in some romos were left their original levels.

Over te last 14 years and in parallel to the construction process, the property’s outdoor space has grown along with the museum, transforming froma plant-deprived courtyard to a lush garden filled with native vegetation. Originally, the garden was empty except for a fig tree and a laurel tree, both of low stature. However, after the addition os locally gathered cuttings and sedes, the garden´s plant development as well as incorporation into the enviroment greatly improved. Even the groundcover comprises several native species with low wáter needs.

Below is a diagramo f the garden and a chronology of photos taken throughout the period.

BEFORE

AFTER