Farm in Spain Countryside

Nestled in the rugged landscape of western Spain, the Extremadura estate designed by ÁBATON Arquitectura is a compelling example of architecture that combines rustic tradition with sustainable innovation. Located in the province of Cáceres, this project involves the transformation of an abandoned barn into a modern family country home, designed to respect the environment and draw inspiration from natural systems rather than impose itself upon them.

This is a stunning example of how architecture can respond to context, climate, and resource constraints. This project is a masterclass.

The estate is situated in an environment of sweeping hills, streams, and the mountainous backdrop of the Serra de Gredos. The original building was a former stable, with the lower level for livestock and the upper level for hay barns.

The key here is how ÁBATON adapted to the specific characteristics of the context. The building was oriented along its elongated southern facade, toward the sloping terrain, to maximize natural light and views. Their concern for landscape integration is evident, as two natural streams run through the property, and the building's design incorporates these water flows rather than ignoring them.

ÁBATON's approach is minimalist yet deeply responsive: they keep what works, remove what doesn't, and add only what allows the building to fit harmoniously into the site.

Internally, the project revolves around a large central space, living room and kitchen, with the upper floor housing the bedrooms. The connection to the landscape and the courtyard are the most visually interesting aspects of this vacation home, in a crucial architectural gesture, with an internal courtyard featuring a fountain fed by the stream. Sliding glass doors and stone walls allow the space to blur boundaries, allowing water, landscape, and climate to be present in the living experience.
Large glass openings on the south facade capture natural light, eaves control heat gain, and the slope and terrain provide views of the valley.
The material palette is restrained and connected to the region, with recycled local stone used predominantly for structural support walls and exterior cladding, and metal, concrete, steel, and glass pillars are used simply to contrast and complement the old stone.

This balance between old/new and rustic/refined is crucial; visually, the building is rooted in the site, but spatially and materially offers modern comfort.
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the property is its sustainable systems—especially considering the remote location, without reliable power grid infrastructure.

They had to rely on solar energy, with photovoltaic panels with storage batteries providing power and two small turbines harnessing the flow of the site's streams. Water management was a concern, so streams feed the courtyard fountain and a storage pool/natural pool, which further irrigates the pastures.

Indeed, the building doesn't just remain on the site—it uses the site's natural resources and climate to become largely self-sufficient. This place is as responsible as it is idyllic.
The openness of the living spaces, the double-height volumes, the sliding doors that nearly erase the boundaries of the landscape—all create a sense of living in nature, rather than simply inhabiting a place.
The Farm in Extremadura demonstrates how a deep sensitivity to context (orientation, materials, topography, hydrology) can create architecture that "belongs" rather than imposes.
Here, sustainability is a design driver, not an afterthought, creating resilience and differentiation.

ÁBATON's Quinta in Extremadura is more than a stunning vacation home in rural Spain, it is a demonstration of how architecture can be rooted, responsible, and refined. It shows how it is possible to respect the past, adapt to the site (orientation, climate, views), and provide a high standard of living through design and intelligent systems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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