Inês Brandão installs black box of rooms inside converted barn home
A black box built from oriented strand board houses the kitchen and bathrooms of this converted barn home in Portugal, and also integrates a staircase leading to the mezzanine floor above (+ slideshow).
![Barn House Monte Real by Ines Brandao](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_936_55.jpg)
Lisbon-based architect Inês Brandão renovated a 50-year-old barn in Leiria, Portugal to create the family home.
![Barn House Monte Real by Ines Brandao](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_936_56.jpg)
"The aim was to maintain existing memories from a space that was once the stage to such varied experiences," said Brandão. "We chose to protect it and elect it as the protagonist of the new home of a young growing family."
![Barn House Monte Real by Ines Brandao](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_936_5.jpg)
Limited budget meant the architects chose affordable materials to complete the project. This included oriented strand board (OSB) – a type of engineered panel made up of wooden strands.
The material was also recently used to build a giant camera obscura and an adaptable Madrid apartment.
![Barn House Monte Real by Ines Brandao](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_936_3.jpg)
The black-painted OSB box occupies a space within the main living space. It provides a kitchen on one side, storage on the other, and encloses bathrooms at its centre. It also include a staircase to a new mezzanine floor.
![Barn House Monte Real by Ines Brandao](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_936_74.jpg)
"With a very small budget, it was essential to create a compact element bringing together all the new functions," said the architects. "This 'furniture' is fundamental in the compartmentalisation of the social area."
![Barn House Monte Real by Ines Brandao](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_936_71.jpg)
A dining-cum-living area is located towards the front of the space. Here, an L-shaped grey sofa faces a wood-burning hearth.
![Barn House Monte Real by Ines Brandao](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_936_27.jpg)
A long wooden table offers enough space to seat eight diners, illuminated by a sculptural pendant light.
![Barn House Monte Real by Ines Brandao](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_936_44.jpg)
The upper level, which once functioned as an area for drying grain, overlooks the living space. It offers residents a quiet retreat that doubles as a workspace.
![Barn House Monte Real by Ines Brandao](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_936_9.jpg)
Walls and ceilings throughout the entire property are painted white, offering a stark contrast to the black volume. Floors are wooden throughout, but the master bedroom features parquet.
![Barn House Monte Real by Ines Brandao](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_936_79.jpg)
Other agricultural buildings that have been converted for residential use include an Alpine cattle shed that is now a holiday cabin and a former barn in England featuring a staircase hidden behind a cupboard door.
Photography is by João Morgado.
![Barn House Monte Real by Ines Brandao](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_1.gif)
![First floor plan – click for larger image](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_2.gif)
![Barn House Monte Real by Ines Brandao](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_3.gif)
![Barn House Monte Real by Ines Brandao](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Barn-House_Monte-Real_Ines-Brandao_dezeen_4.gif)