Zurita Studio and Kalibra Arquitectura Transform Ruined Border Outpost into Passive House Without Air Conditioning

Zurita Studio and Kalibra Arquitectura have just finished a project called Stone and Water, which is a house built inside the remnants of a 19th-century Spanish Civil Guard station in Sanlúcar de Guadiana, Huelva, Spain. Instead of restoring it as a historical piece, the architects shaped the new design based on the existing stone walls. This former outpost, which once watched over smuggling routes between Spain and Portugal, retains its original window loopholes. The homeowner, who has deep roots in the village, acquired the site with her ex-partner, an Argentine artist and sailor. The architect, a family friend, has known the area since childhood. The new build features an unobtrusive extension that highlights the contrast between the old and new using different finishes. The sloped roof ensures privacy from the path while also framing views of the river. Inside, there are no doors; instead, privacy is managed through the layout. Due to budget constraints and challenging access, they reused materials like reclaimed timber beams and an old cupboard. The house uses passive cooling techniques alongside solar panels from a nearby building, prioritizing reuse as a key design principle.