Timber frame house in Cercedilla

Location: Cercedilla, Madrid

Status: In construction

Built Area of dwelling: 255 m²

Year: 2026

This project transforms a pre-existing house in Cercedilla, in the Sierra de Madrid, by embracing the value of what already exists rather than replacing it entirely. Part of the original masonry structure is preserved and integrated into a new architectural intervention, establishing a dialogue between the memory of the existing building and a contemporary way of living.

The proposal consists of a two-storey extension built with a lightweight timber-frame system, conceived as a precise, efficient and low-impact construction. The new volume introduces a warmer and lighter architectural language that complements the mineral character of the original stone and masonry walls, creating a balanced relationship between permanence and innovation.

From the outset, the project was designed with off-site prefabrication in mind. The structural system has been developed so that most of its components can be manufactured in a controlled environment and assembled on site, reducing construction times, minimising waste and improving the overall quality and precision of the execution process. This approach is particularly valuable in a sensitive natural setting such as Cercedilla, where limiting the impact of construction is an essential part of the design strategy.

The material palette follows the principles of bioconstruction and environmental responsibility. Bio-based materials such as wood-fibre insulation are combined with breathable lime-based finishes to create a healthy and comfortable indoor environment while enhancing the thermal performance and long-term durability of the building envelope.

Resource efficiency also extends to the landscape design. Stone recovered during the demolition process is reused throughout the plot, becoming part of the exterior paving and other garden elements. In this way, materials already present on site are given a new life, reinforcing the connection between the existing house and its future transformation.

More than an extension, the project is an exercise in continuity and adaptation. It combines the recovery of an existing structure with contemporary timber construction techniques to create a home that is efficient, breathable and deeply connected to its garden, its landscape and the natural surroundings of the Sierra de Madrid.

Credits

Architectural design: Ricardo Pariente Villasur

Collaborators: Daniel Muñoz

MEP design: Gaia

Structural design: GV408

General Contractor: Anboc

Timber contractor: Medgon – Anboc