The Doctor’s House | JOSE COSTA ARQ.

In 1941, Nilda’s grandparents rented this house in Turís, Valencia, a dwelling built fifteen years earlier and distinguished by its generous backyard, which at the time still opened onto surrounding farmland. A few years later they purchased the property and carried out the first major transformation, extending the house toward the garden. As the village doctor, the grandfather devoted part of the home to his medical practice, a common arrangement at the time. At the far end of the garden he also built a small elevated pavilion—a secluded place where he could retreat to read away from the rhythms of family life. In the late 1970s, after his retirement, the family moved to Valencia, and the house became a holiday home.

Over the years, small adjustments were made to respond to changing needs, but once it ceased to be a permanent residence, the house gradually fell out of step with contemporary living. Decades later, Nilda decided to return and make it her primary home.

The nearly 300 m² of the main building had to accommodate two ways of inhabiting the house: the everyday life of one or two people for most of the year, and the lively gatherings of the extended family during summers and holidays, continuing its long tradition as a place of reunion. The project also introduced a small pool inspired by traditional irrigation basins, a painting studio, and the restoration of the old garden pavilion as a leisure space.

The original house was composed of two clearly distinct halves. The street-facing volume, with its brick façade, timber windows and tiled roof, remained largely intact. This area now serves as accommodation for visiting family members, with five bedrooms and three bathrooms. The entrance gate and wooden carpentry were restored, while original tiles and flooring were carefully preserved and reused.

The garden-facing half now contains the main living spaces: living room, dining room, kitchen and the primary suite. Due to its deterioration, this section required a more substantial intervention. Roofs and parts of the structure were replaced, and the façade was opened up to strengthen the relationship with the garden. To bring natural light deep into the plan, a new courtyard was carved out above the kitchen. Enclosed in glass, it takes on the character of an interior garden. A new staircase becomes a central element in the house, linking both halves while establishing a visual dialogue with the courtyard.

The result is a home that carries forward the memory of the family while adapting to contemporary life—an architecture where past and present coexist naturally.