Inside a Historic House Reimagined Around a Central Courtyard

Located in El Toscal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, this remarkable project transforms a ruined house from 1912 into a contemporary home centered around light, air, and an open courtyard.

Designed by Alejandro Beautell, the renovation does not attempt to recreate the past exactly. Instead, the project carefully preserves the character of the original house while introducing new architectural elements that allow it to adapt to modern life.

The small existing ventilation patio was expanded across the entire width of the house, becoming the true heart of the project. Around this central courtyard, the rooms are connected through open galleries and circulation spaces inspired by traditional Canarian architecture.

The second floor is set back from the original façade, reducing its visual impact from the street while creating a private terrace for the main bedroom. A staircase positioned beside the courtyard becomes an important architectural element, connecting the different spaces while recalling the material traditions of old Canarian homes.

The material palette creates a clear dialogue between past and present. Existing walls are preserved and left exposed or finished with lime mortar, while new interventions are expressed through exposed concrete with different textures and finishes.

Rather than freezing the house in time, this renovation allows it to evolve. The result is a quiet balance between historic architecture and contemporary living, where the central courtyard brings light, air, and a new sense of life into a house that once stood in ruins.

Project: Rehabilitation House in El Toscal
Location: El Toscal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Architects: Alejandro Beautell
Area: 130 m²
Year: 2020
Photographs: Flavio Dorta
#Architecture #HistoricHouse #HouseRenovation #CourtyardHouse #ModernArchitecture #SpanishArchitecture #Tenerife #CanaryIslands #ContemporaryArchitecture #ArchitecturalDesign