Filosofia de reforma

My initial concept is a mountain refuge, a sort of stone hut camping, and land to grow on. With a long-term perspective to improve, working together with friends, while starting out slowly, day trips and overnight stays, without electricity for the construction and lights(cordless drill, hand saw & candles, kerosene lamps, old-school chandeliers), collecting rainwater, drinking from the spring water, using a wood stove (or camping gas!), natural outdoor toilet (aka: hole in the ground).

I´ve come to realize this is a typical idea of vacations in Norway: cabin life in Norway.

There are several reasons for wanting this, but at the root is my appreciation of nature and the history of these cabañas pasiegos, of alternative natural living, of finding simple solutions to basic needs. And since this cabaña will most likely remain as a mountain get-away, and not a permanent residence, I wanted to create a unique weekend experience, and not just taking my city living comforts and lifestyle into the mountains. I will, however, have my smartphone for quickly Googling doubts!

Upstairs: hay and branches

First steps:

1. Road access--fix some pot holes.

2. Clean out the inside: all the manure, straw, branches, etc...

3. Fix the two floors, removing half of the 2nd story to make an open gallery to the bottom floor. Lay a new wood floor on that remaining half of the 2nd story.

4. Place a rain collection gutter and deposit on the uphill side for indoor use.

5. Create steps from the road to the front doors (using wood, gravel, stones).

6. With every trip bring living/cooking/sleeping supplies.

7. Mortar any non-mortared stones with traditional lime mortar.

Stone slab shingles

What do I want to wait and see:

1. The stone slab roof--I want to avoid re-roofing, understanding that I will occasionally have to reposition a stone slab, as was traditionally done.

2. There is humidity on the up-hill, underground wall. I want to see to what extent it leaks, or just remains humid. The gutter might limit water draining down on that wall, and I may dig a french drain uphill from it too....we´ll wait and see. For now, don´t place fragile things in that corner.

3. The bottom floor is of thick stone slab...I´m interested to see whats under them, and to gain some height under the 2nd floor it could be useful to remove that half....wait and see.

Non-essentials:

1. Plant trees (see legal aspects, only native species...how about non-native bushes? Blueberries would be nice).

2. Create vegetable garden

3. Install rain-water plumbing for sink.

4. Install woodstove/woodfurnace (legally only allowed one chimney escape)

5. Outdoor firepit/Picnic table