The Restoration

  (to return to previous page, please close this window)

Casa Larga germinated from a wish to have a 'bolt-hole' in Spain.  Between us, having travelled extensively, we were searching to find somewhere that blended North Africa, the Mediterranean and my home in Jamaica. 

Spain, Andalucia and Melegís appeared to be the ideal spot for us and in 1998, we bought the small property, number 24. in Calle Larga.  We still have the 'back of the envelope' calculations that, whilst sitting on the beach, we used to work out how we could possibly go ahead with the purchase and restoration.  At this stage there was no mention of any  garden or adjacent land being available.

The building program of number 24 was extensive.  Having decided that the finished building should meet modern Spanish civil engineering standards, it had to be both true to the origins of the building and blend in with the neighbours. 

In short, refurbishment necessitated removing the top floors, strengthening the lower structure, laying new floors, building a new top floor, roofs and roof terraces.  We are now quite proud of the fact that from the street it looks no different than it has ever looked.

Like all things in Spain, there is a sense of destiny.  The 'huerto' at the back of the house, belonging to one Pepe Ramon, materialised - miraculously for sale - just at the end of the building programme.  A doorway was hastily knocked through the end wall of the long room and that was that.  We had a garden.

Well, not quite. 

It was in truth a very neglected and overgrown piece of land and had piles of rubble everywhere.  But it did have 40  assorted fruit trees that had survived the neglect. Having succeeded in getting our huerto, we then needed a sitting place, a barbecue and some way of getting around and amongst the trees – it can be a bit dusty or muddy at times!  Then followed the building of the terrace, stone barbecue, pergola, and the stepping stone path.

Three years ago on completion  we equipped the house to a good standard for holiday rental, and for the following two years we and other visitors have been enjoying  wonderful holidays in our new surroundings .

Then Destiny paid another visit.  At the back of Number 24 was an adjoining derelict house, Number 22 (literally a ruin) that would obviously make a great addition to our holiday accommodation.  This ruin belonged to the family of the recently deceased owner occupiers of number 20, the habitable house next door.

Without changing the original shape of the ruined walls, if refurbished, we could add a comfortable sitting room with fireplace and veranda, and upstairs above, a double bedroom with en suite and great views of the mountains beyond. 

After much negotiation and considerable passing of time we are now the owners of Numbers 20. 22 and 24.

The result?  Casa Larga now comprises the original refurbished house, the ruin that has just been restored and the (completed in 2006) Larguita next door. 

The project has been managed by a local firm of architects (MiraSur Projectos)  using local builders and traditional materials.  Their record of work for us to date has been reliable, on schedule and on budget (well, within the envisioned range!).