How to Integrate Traditional Galician Design into Modern Construction

At Abeiro, we believe that the architectural roots of Galicia can coexist with contemporary design. Imagine a home with the warmth of ancestral stone and the functionality of a 21st-century household. We tell you how to integrate traditional Galician elements into modern projects while guaranteeing maximum efficiency.

5 Keys to an Authentic Integration

1. Local Stone, but with Current Technique
Exposed granite walls: Use natural stone blocks on façades or interior walls, combined with ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite System) to comply with energy regulations.
Modern details: Contrast the stone with large glazed areas or corten steel structures.

2. Pitched Roofs (with an Innovative Touch!)
Maintain the essence of slate or curved tile roofs, but with:
Integrated solar panels (without breaking the aesthetics).
Deep chestnut wood eaves to protect from the rain.
Inspiration: Houses on the Costa da Morte with ventilated roofs and ecological insulation.

3. Hórreos and Pallozas: Reinterpreted
Contemporary hórreos: Wood and glass structures as garages, studios, or covered pools.
Green roofs: Emulate the curved shape of the pallozas with landscaped roofs on single-family homes.

4. Glazed Galleries (Enclosed Sunrooms)
Galician tradition: The enclosed sunrooms (solainas) captured light in winter.
Modern version: Galleries with triple-glazed windows and automated blinds.

5. Native Materials in Interiors
Floors: Galician oak hardwood flooring or hydraulic tiles with traditional motifs.
Joinery: Chestnut wood doors and furniture with minimalist designs.
Lighting: Wrought iron lamps (like the old ferradas) in an industrial chic version.

Mistakes You Should Avoid
Excessive folklorism: A decorative hórreo in an urban penthouse is out of context.
Prioritizing aesthetics over efficiency: Example: Using stone without associated thermal insulation.
Ignoring the surroundings: In a city, adapt the scale (e.g.: glazed galleries yes, but without excess volume).

Examples of Integration by Areas of Galicia
Ribeira Sacra: Black slate houses with large windows facing the Miño River.
A Mariña: White façades with wooden corridors and aerodynamic shapes.
Santiago: Wrought iron balconies on avant-garde line buildings.