When we talk about sentiments, our mind often turns to memories linked to people. But there are also relationships with such a strong, greater and longer link with a place.
For Benni Allan, the town of Altea represents that place to which he returns to find himself, to the essence of childhood when, on many occasions, the mind enjoys excellent clairvoyance. While growing up with his parents not far from there, Benni began a sentimental relationship with Altea that is now intensifying with the discovery and careful renovation of Casa Agulló.
“Altea is very lucky to have a close connection with both the sea and the mountains. The word itself means the Town on the Hill, and this is very apparent when you visit. The most distinctive feature, apart from the nature around the town, are the white buildings and the stone-laid streets. There is a particularly amazing view over the port and towards the lighthouse that has always been a favourite spot. From as far back as I can remember, I always thought I would see myself living there.”
The picture described by Benni cannot be more Mediterranean. However, it is just the opposite of the way he draws from the house on his first visit: “It felt very dark and somewhat damp. Hardly any work had been done to it for over 40 years.” Benni tried to maintain the dignity and pride of the house by using earthy materials, “particularly those that show a sense of time. I was also very keen to make sure the project had a positive environmental position, influencing my decision to make a conscious choice to source all materials from within the region”.
The patios are also very significant in the architecture of this area of Spain and of course, it is an essential part of Casa Agulló. “I wanted to create the sense of a traditional patio at the rear which leads off from the kitchen. A private space that you could hide away in summer when the heat of the day is too much to handle, or in the morning when you want to benefit from the amazing light that catches the big wall behind.” The most remarkable lesson that Benni has learned since the launch of EBBA, his studio in London, is “to allow for space for experimentation and not be too concerned about the end result. Everything happens for a reason, and every decision often leads to something unexpected”. It can be thoroughly applied to his discovery of Casa Agulló, an unexpected chance encounter while he was looking at opportunities to find a home available in the area.
One of the defining aspects that led Benni to finally acquire it was the aspect on the top floor, which used to be the workshop where the former owner made model boats. “We decided early on to invert the arrangement of the house so that the living room would be on the top floor, opening up large windows leading out to the terrace. You can spend a whole day upstairs, whether you are working, lounging, enjoying an early breakfast or late into the night.
At EBBA each project is characterised by a strong desire of making more with less, using clean and natural materials to enhance the experience of a calming space. In the Altea project, the most representative details, aside from the existing floors that have been kept on the top floors -including the paint-stained concrete of the original workshop- are the vaulted ceilings: “These were also essential to restore and retain. I felt that painting them white at the front of the house would help to brighten up and bounce light deep into the plan, keeping the character of the Mediterranean style while introducing a contemporary touch.”
The love story of Benni with Altea even evokes emotions, experiences and memories that go way back to before the architect came across Casa Agulló. Rather, they are ones experienced with the senses—the smell of earth, the warm colours and especially the coolness of the stone (celebrated in the selection of Roman marble quarried in Alicante for the house’s ground floor)— that transport Benni sensually to a personal past: “Way before air conditioning I remember sleeping on the floors of my house to try to cool down. It has a very emotional quality”.
