Cottage in La Vera: Rustic Vacation Home Near Spanish Forests
In a mountainous region in Spain, local studio Ábaton converted a labour house into a contemporary cottage that overlooks a nearby forest. Designed in 2024, Cottage in La Vera features traditional architecture and materials but with a modern twist. Dubbed a “non-intervention” in the territory by the studio, the renovation was intended to respect the existing building, using local materials from the land and old surrounding structures.
![Rustic, stone-walled rural building with wooden doors, surrounded by lush vegetation.](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/001-cottage-in-la-vera-rustic-vacation-home-near-spanish-forests-460x306.jpg)
Cottage in La Vera Features Traditional Architecture
Surrounded by a hunting area lined with wildlife, Àbaton sought to establish a retreat that preserves the original materials and layout of the house, creating a “dialogue between architecture, interior design, and the natural surroundings”.
![A cozy living space with rustic stone walls, warm lighting, and a mix of modern and natural furnishings.](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/002-cottage-in-la-vera-rustic-vacation-home-near-spanish-forests-460x306.jpg)
Ábaton focused the cottage around the open-plan living and dining area, which sits between two bedrooms and bathrooms. The studio opened up the interior of the property by removing its windows, opting to instead cut rectangular openings from the floor to the ceiling.
![Cozy, rustic living room with wooden accents, stone fireplace, and wicker furnishings.](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/003-cottage-in-la-vera-rustic-vacation-home-near-spanish-forests-460x306.jpg)
The open-plan living room leads to the open patio with views of the forest. It was decorated with a mix of modern furniture and rustic elements, while the bedrooms were dressed with wooden storage compartments.
Ábaton rendered the home with contrasting white plaster and terracotta tiles to “fully open the facade to transform the cottage into a large porch overlooking the forest horizon”.
![A cozy and inviting living space with wooden furnishings, patterned accents, and a scenic view.](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/004-cottage-in-la-vera-rustic-vacation-home-near-spanish-forests-460x690.jpg)
“New elements, such as the chestnut wood shutters, will blend with the environment over time, acquiring a grayish patina,” said Àbaton.
While much of the design was consistent with the original, Ábaton added new materials that were balanced out with those already on the site. Old timber beams and stone tiles were recovered from existing land and surrounding structures and used in the interior of the cottage.
![A cozy kitchen-dining area with exposed stone wall, wooden table, and vibrant red chairs.](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/006-cottage-in-la-vera-rustic-vacation-home-near-spanish-forests-460x690.jpg)
Cottage in La Vera Offers Energy-Efficient Alternative
“This project, as a ‘non-intervention’ in the territory, used local materials and elements recovered from the land and surrounding old structures,” it said.
![A minimalist bedroom with built-in closets, a stone vanity, and a neutral color palette.](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/009-cottage-in-la-vera-rustic-vacation-home-near-spanish-forests-460x690.jpg)
Ábaton Architects has worked extensively around Spain, usually in respect of the original structure of the homes.
![A minimalist bathroom with a rustic stone vanity, mirror, and wooden accents.](http://i.homeadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/010-cottage-in-la-vera-rustic-vacation-home-near-spanish-forests-460x690.jpg)
Photography courtesy of Ábaton
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