A house that takes care of you, a unique 16th century manor house with contemporary renovations

It is the home of the tide watchers, a tribute to the guardians of the ecosystem, to bird lovers and to those who care for the planet. A space that promotes creativity and art as a language to transmit values”.

To the tide mills of Cantabria Good for you, good for the environment.

This 16th century manor house has been carefully refurbished with an awareness of sustainability, providing it with all contemporary needs including welfare measures.The house has 600 built meters and 735 m2 of plot. These WELL measures are considered by the GLOBAL WELLNESS INSTITUTE as attributes that increase the comfort and well-being of its occupants making the environment healthier. Here are some examples: Natural ecological photocatalytic silicate-based paints, which allow stone walls to breathe and help prevent dampness (three 15-litre cans of this paint absorb more than 10Kg of CO2, the same amount as an adult tree per year). Exercise bike to encourage physical exercise. Coworking area with ergonomic furniture designed by the Spanish firm ACTIU, winner of a national design award and certified as WELL.

Filters for water treatment avoiding lime, chlorine and heavy minerals, incorporating ionizers that allow to regulate the pH, combat oxidation, hydrating and alkalizing the body. All products used for cleaning the house are natural and ecological. To disinfect we use water with ph 2.5, which can be obtained from our ionizer. This machine has different pH levels and can, for example, wash fruits and vegetables with pH 8 and remove pesticides or drink alkaline water with pH 8.5 and 9.0. The project incorporates biophilia, which means “love of life and living things”. coined by biologist Edward Osborne Wilson in his book Biophilia, which won him two Pulitzer prizes. It argues that contact with nature is essential for human psychological development. This vital desire for contact with nature is as important as establishing relationships with other people. The house includes a garden divided into two connected plots. Internet system combined with SIGNIFY LIFI for the coworking area, an alternative technology not based on electromagnetic waves, 100 times faster than wifi connection, healthier, safer and more environmentally friendly.

Casa de Mareas is the first home to incorporate this pioneering technology, which reduces exposure to radio frequencies without sacrificing download speed, while at the same time ensuring the well-being and health of those present by eliminating radio frequencies in the connection. In this project we try to minimise the impact of electromagnetic waves to favour rest and sleep quality. We want to encourage a conscious use of the spaces and for this reason we combine LIFI for the work area, wifi for the common areas and high-speed wired internet at 1000 megabytes if you want to have a fast connection in the rooms and avoid multiple repeaters, as this house from the 16th century has thick stone walls.

Virtual tour

Respectful restoration

The house dates back to the 16th century. It was the residence of the Lamadrid family, whose coat of arms can be seen on the façade. It is a typical Cantabrian mountain house with a façade listed as a BIC. Its integral rehabilitation process has lasted about two years. The house was very deteriorated but even so we have tried to recover as many of the original materials as possible. Contrasts have been sought, incorporating more modern finishes with natural materials that are even more different from the original elements: polished cement floors that blend in with the stone walls, modern light sheet metal staircases that fit into the gaps left by the century-old beams.

In the main hall it was possible to maintain the original hydraulic floor in its entirety, restoring other pieces found in the house that have been used to give personality to the bathrooms and to introduce some elements of the original house into them. Seventy per cent of the new materials incorporated have been recovered from demolition work. The wooden floor in one wing of the house is made of old pine, more than 100 years old, as are all the interior doors. Natural materials, sobriety and respect for its original essence.

As this was a refurbishment of a listed house, preference was given to preserving the character of the house by leaving the interior exposed stone, to the detriment of implementing insulation that would make it more sustainable. All the windows in the house had to be made new and are made of wood, in accordance with BIC protection regulations.

Interior design and art

The interior design was carried out in a state of alarm by COVID19, so it was an exercise in sustainability and creativity. All the materials and furniture from various family homes were used. The tables in both dining rooms were made from old wooden floors that are hundreds of years old, and as seats, for one of them some old benches that were originally found in the house were reused and restored, as well as a bullfighting poster from the bullring in Santander from the 1950s and some old cartwheels that appeared on the site.

Most of the of the furniture is of family origin from different periods, all combined with the use of fabrics, upholstery and natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, recovered jutes… combined with top quality equipment such as 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and towels and beds with the best hotel standards. Art is a very important component of the life of the house. Works of art by emerging artists supported by The Sibarist from its ART U READY platform have been incorporated: we can find pieces by Sergio Femar, Remed, Carla Cascales, Marta Páramo, artist of the association DEBAJO DEL SOMBRERO, Misael del Rosario, Federico Takkenberg and Leonardo, the youngest artist in our country, which coexist with works by established artists such as José Guerrero. The result is an eclectic, original, cosy and very comfortable interior design, aware of the current moment we live in, with a responsible consumer conscience.

Facilities

7 rooms with en suite bathroom (one is triple)

Maximum capacity 15 people. Equipped with linen and kitchenware

Lift available to the first floor

Optimal connections for teleworking

Coworking 8 people with LIFI technology

Double room with adapted bathroom

Private outdoor parking for 3/4 cars

2 connected gardens

1 kitchen with induction hob and another with gas

Laundry with 2 washing machines + 1 tumble dryer

3 living rooms with fireplace, 2 with TV. 2 dining rooms

Natural surroundings

Located in Escalante, also known as the “Santillana del Mar de Trasmiera”, this small village located in the eastern part of Cantabria of medieval origin captivates us with its mansions that conserve their mountain style. On the shores of the marshes of Santoña and catalogued as a natural park, the whole area maintains its ecosystem intact, located just 3km from one of the best beaches in Cantabria,of medieval origin captivates us with its mansions that conserve their mountain style. On the shores of the marshes of Santoña and catalogued as a natural park, the whole area maintains its ecosystem intact, located just 3km from one of the best beaches in Cantabria, the kilometre-long beach of Berria, chosen by surf lovers as one of their favourite beaches par excellence where they go throughout the year, especially suitable for beginners.

The Natural Park of the Marshes of Santoña, Victoria and Joyel, with more than 4,000 hectares of high ecological value, is considered one of the most biologically diverse enclaves in Spain, with more than 20,000 birds of 120 different species, small mammals and a unique flora.A good number of them come from Northern Europe and choose Santoña to spend a much milder winter than in their countries of origin.Spring and autumn are the migratory seasons, making this the ideal time to observe seabirds.Among other species, you will be able to see great and small loons, red-necked grebes, black-faced goose barnacles, common scoters, medium-sized serins and common razorbills.

It is only 35 km from Santander, 6 km from Santoña, a lively town all year round, especially at weekends and in summer, and 65 km from Bilbao and its international airport.

Escalante is a discreet village that remains authentic, well known locally for its gastronomic appeal. Lovers of tranquillity and gastronomy will find their special Eden here, enjoying the famous anchovies from Santoña, sardine skewers, as well as other famous Cantabrian dishes, such as cocido montañés (Cantabrian stew).