Happy Home
Located in one of Madrid's Satellite Settlements, urban developments in the north of the city built between 1956 and 1966, stands the Happy Home. To be more specific, José Luis Romany designed Fuencarral C as a residential typological combination that included single-family row houses and linear blocks. The house took a new direction in 2023 with the arrival of a new family, consisting of two adults, two newborns and a doe, adapting to the contemporary needs of a neighbourhood struggling to find peace in the midst of the nearby traffic junction.
When the family acquired the house, it had undergone significant modifications. The courtyard’s original U-shaped layout had been converted into a storage room. The lower façade had been altered, losing the distinctive porch that once defined it. Sliding shutters were replaced by a large awning, and the exposed brick wall was covered with white tiles. Its previous users had lived in the house for a long time, resulting in the original plan being compromised.
The rehabilitation of the house revolves around six key strategies. The primary goal is to restore the building’s original spirit while adapting it to the modern needs of its new inhabitants and preserving the material memories embedded within it. The renovation prepares the house for a second life, accommodating a diverse group of living beings and the material objects required to develop their daily routines. The proposed strategies include:
+Removing volumetric additions and restoring the iconic brick façade with its lattices.
+Add two structural porticoes, one as a communication core and the other as an expansion of the main common area.
+Upgrade of aerothermal systems.
+Fully open the western façade to create a summer lounge and establish intermittent connections with the rooms above.
+Utilise the space under the gable roof for additional functionality.
+Improve the harmony with the environment by incorporating bright colours (orange and green) alongside natural materials (ceramic, wood, and metal).
The house is designed to accompany the family through various stages of life, evolving alongside the twins as they grow. During their early years they will share the large room, which will nurture dreams and playtime but will later be divided into two separate spaces for more privacy. The kitchen is initially equipped with space for high chairs and will evolve into a kitchen-office, where they can read in the company of their parents while cooking. The living room, protected by a large lattice in summer, can fully open to connect the indoor and outdoor spaces whenever needed.
Happy Home invites life and memories: the sound of birds heard from the sofa, the leaves' shadow projected on the walls, and sunlight slipping through slits as laughter and the clumsy steps of little feet fill the space. A home to live in. A home to create memories. A home to grow and enjoy.
