Restoration and preservation of a cultural heritage site
In 2012 we began a full-scale restoration of the historic Palacio de las Torres Donlebun, located in the Asturian town of Barres, with the goal of converting it into a 9-room luxury hotel. The building is a national cultural heritage site dating back to the 16th century and is believed to be the birthplace of Sancho Pardo Donlebun, a notorious admiral who participated in the Spanish Armada. Our approach to this project was to respect and preserve the building´s essence while emphasizing its history and attractiveness as a tourist destination.
The property´s total surface area measures 378,000 square meters, of which 1,800 belong to the palace itself. Prior to its restoration, the building suffered from collapsed walls, fractured beams and the complete lack of a roof. The palace possesses a square-shaped patio, enclosed by a crenellated wall. The front door is shaped like a semicircular arch with large keystones. The coat-of-arms of the Pardo-Donlebun family is located above.
Our proposed floor plan included communal spaces on the ground floor, surrounding the central patio, with bedrooms on the first and second floors. In the northernmost part of the patio, which organizes the existing volumes, we schemed a space leading into the foyer and main staircase, while spilling into the patio through a newly-constructed traditional gallery.
In accordance with one of ENERO´s identifying principles, we utilized local, traceable, historically-accurate materials whenever possible. From the oak wood floors recycled from a demolition, to the masons´ slate slabs, to the mortar derived from hydraulic limestone and multi-colored sieved sand, the project was carried out with the utmost care paid to historical authenticity and environmental sustainability.
DATE: 2019
LOCATION: Barres, Asturias
