Casa del Labrador en el Palacio de Aranjuez

At the end of the 18th century, King Charles IV ordered the construction of a palace on the eastern edge of the Gardens of Aranjuez, following the influence of French country houses and Italian casinos. Designed by Juan de Villanueva, the building stands beside the River Tagus and is distinguished by its rich interior ornamentation and valuable historic and artistic assets, including silks, mural paintings, furniture, and sculptures.

In 2017, the appearance of cracks in façades, floors, and ceilings prompted an initial phase of monitoring and analysis carried out by Patrimonio Nacional, the owner of the property. Various studies confirmed that the structural problems stemmed from inadequate foundations and the proximity of the groundwater table.

In 2017, the appearance of cracks in façades, floors, and ceilings prompted an initial phase of monitoring and analysis carried out by Patrimonio Nacional, the owner of the property. Various studies confirmed that the structural problems stemmed from inadequate foundations and the proximity of the groundwater table.

The underpinnings executed in the early 20th century did not reach sufficiently firm ground, making it necessary to undertake a new foundation system. When the drafting of the project was nearly complete, Storm Filomena worsened the monitored cracks, leading to the start of emergency works in March 2021.

The new foundation consists of two groups of piles distributed throughout the entire floor plan. A total of 500 piles, each 15 cm in diameter and reaching a depth of 15 meters, were installed around the perimeter and interior walls. In strategic locations, 30 cm diameter piles were placed at greater depths and set at an inclined angle to prevent horizontal displacement.

The pile heads were connected by tie beams and threaded metal dowels, allowing the transfer of wall loads to the foundation. The entire process was monitored in real time to control vibrations and movements within the established limits.

Se renovó la cubierta con revestimiento de pizarra, aprovechando para incorporar aislamiento térmico que permita atenuar los fuertes cambios de temperatura que afectan al inmueble. Se restauraron elementos de remate y mansardas con la intervención de especialistas en zinc y plomo. Además, se instalaron emplomados de 2,5 mm de espesor en las terrazas planas, garantizando su estanqueidad mediante la ejecución de remates, canales y encuentros adecuados.

Dada la complejidad de la intervención, se retiraron y catalogaron los bienes muebles, protegiendo ornamentos, paredes, techos y estructuras para evitar daños, durante la fase de recalce, y acumulación de polvo. Se realizaron trabajos de consolidación en techos pintados y cosido de grietas estructurales mediante mallas especiales y mortero de cal, asegurando la estabilidad previa a los trabajos en la cimentación.