Cristina Carulla restores a 12th-century farmhouse in the medieval village of Cruïlles, Girona—balancing tradition and modernity

This farmhouse, restored by Cristina Carulla, is located in the small medieval village of Cruïlles, located in the Baix Empordà (Girona), which preserves part of its walls and the keep of the old castle, with an exceptional view of the old Benedictine monastery of Sant Miquel de Cruïlles.The house preserves part of its walls and the keep of the old castle, with an exceptional view of the old Benedictine monastery of Sant Miquel de Cruïlles.

The 500 m² farmhouse is integrated into the old city walls and has a 300 m² garden and a separate guest house. The project combines rustic and traditional elements with a contemporary intervention, resulting in spacious interiors, abundant natural light and a personalised design fusing the authenticity of classical architecture with contemporary touches, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere full of charming details that incite relaxation.

Natural light, which changes throughout the day and brings the spaces to life, is a central element of the project, as is privacy, maintaining a sense of serenity and seclusion despite the urban environment.

The interior showcases unique art pieces and exclusive furnishings, from handcrafted tapestry to artwork with personal meaning to the owner, creating an emotional connection in each room.

The restoration incorporated reclaimed ceramics and stone, clay floors and solid wood, maintaining an earthy palette with warm accents and natural textures, such as jute and porcelain collected over time.

The intervention achieves a balance between tradition and modernity, resulting in an intimate and sophisticated house that invites contemplation and living in harmony with the rural environment.

Project: Casa Cruïlles.
Interior design and restoration: Cristina Carulla Studio.
Location: Cruïlle. Girona.
Surface: 500 m².
Finished: 2024.
Fotografía: Nacho Alegre.

Cristina Carulla

Cristina Carulla studied Interior Design at Parsons The New School for Design in New York. During her time as a student, she collaborated with Rhobin DelaCruz Studio learning the peculiarities of the American market and directed two successful projects in the Lower and Upper East Side of Manhattan.

She lived in Mexico City working as a journalist for the home division of Elle magazine, writing about the latest trends and classic interiors. After her time at Elle, Cristina took her passion for interior design to the next level and opened her own restoration and furniture shop named Dimitri. She also designed her first restaurant, Felix Bar, in Colonia Roma, as well as a townhouse in the same neighbourhood.

Back in Barcelona, he worked for three years with Lázaro Rosa Violán before founding his own studio in 2015.

Source: Cristina Carulla Studio.

Project by Cristina Carulla