Completed in 2011, the Mas del Caixó Farmhouse is an example of Spanish vernacular architecture as it reflects the environmental and historical context in which it exists. Contrary to what polite architecture expresses in terms of style and materials, the farm below gathered the culture and the technology of the local area. For example, the building is made up of three interconnecting dwellings (the middle one belonging to another owner) situated between two terraces which both face southeast, a particular characteristic common to the majority of the ranches in the area. Moreover, architects Teo Hidalgo Nácher + Felipe García relied on efficiency while designing the new concept of the farmhouse. The running water and electricity is provided by two 10,000 litre cisterns that collect rainwater off the roof and two photovoltaic panels, respectively. Therefore, the functionality of the building is the dominant factor and the aesthetic considerations became quite minimal. But, we love vernacular architecture for its ‘domestic’ feeling!
