amid the verdant agricultural fields of palma de mallorca, spain, mariana de delás has breathed new life into a secluded stone abode, transforming it into a sybaritic structure away from the bustling city center. dubbed ’12volt’, the renovated retreat serves as the studio’s pilot intervention in a broader project seeking to renew a series of traditional sheds and shelters into temporary homes. bright red metal profiles and made-to-measure furniture adorn the shed, while a series of rechargeable battery-powered devices complete the interior, facilitating the occupants’ life.

all images by tomeu canyellas

throughout the island, one can find numerous traditional stone shelters that were initially built as refuges for hunters and shepherds, and also as storage units for labor tools. the structures consist of simple walls made from locally sourced stone. in addition, the light ceramic and tile roofing, as well as the small size footprint they occupy, (they range from 5 to 20 sqm) make them stand out. although most of them are currently in disuse, their exterior is still kept intact. 

mariana de delás wanted to restore and highlight this particular hideout, whilst optimizing the interior by introducing ample natural light and generous views. the focal element of the project is the bright red bow window carved into the old stone, which ensures cross-ventilation while also serving as an interior seating element. the new opening frames the landscape from both inside and outside re-establishing the connection between the interior and the exterior that was missing. this window is devised, thought, and executed conjointly with local studio 2monos. through this collaboration, the team at mariana de delás was able to create the thinnest metal profiles possible, along with an easy, elegant, and functional opening mechanism.

the studio has also installed a selection of made-to-measure furniture that has a double use, thus making the most out of the limited space. all of the interventions and furniture pieces have been self-built so that the architects could explore, and perfect the use of different materials and options. benches, tables, and stools are made by assembling the traditional 80cm x 40cm mares piece in different positions, reusing the characteristically traditional facade element into the inside.

following this experimentative philosophy, the facilities within the retreat are conceived to work independently to the space that they serve. these MEP devices are envisioned to work to ensure fire/hazard safety (as the surroundings are very dry) and to promote a low energy consumption lifestyle, encouraging individuals to explore battery portability.

the project incorporates a solar wheelbarrow that helps optimize the charging to the position of the sun, whilst acting as a morning ritual to charge the inside power banks and batteries. all electrical components in the house are made with small batteries so that they are portable and can be charged from the power banks that are charged at the solar wheelbarrow. lights and fans are made with 9V batteries that can easily be charged by the sun. a bigger power bank and some electrical scooter 12V batteries are available to charge laptops, the water pump, and other heavier load components.

the solar wheelbarrow serves as a mobile charging station prototype that epitomizes the future of mobile living. ‘once high capacity batteries become lighter, the power grid and installations can travel with the user and not be fixed into the architecture, making and creating a new revolution of nomad living, where energy is portable and is disassociated with the space its serves,’ mariana de delás explains.

name: 12 volt retreat architecture studio: mariana de delás lead architect: mariana de delás team: ines von bingen, miguel aníbal-álvarez steel profile design: bow-window steel furniture design: alejandro dumon of 2monos studio location: palma de mallorca, spain area: 15 sqm

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