In Barcelona, four couples collaborated on a unique project involving five apartments and shared communal spaces. The initiator, who is also a resident, aimed to create a new home focused on high-quality construction, passive design principles, and sustainability.
Each apartment spans approximately 80 square meters and features two balconies—one overlooking the inner courtyard and the other facing the street. This layout promotes natural cross-ventilation and defines the building’s façade. The living room, kitchen, and dining areas are positioned at the rear, facing the courtyard.
The accessible inner courtyard and the indoor swimming pool on the ground floor serve as communal areas designed to encourage social interaction and activities among all residents.
This project offers a fresh take on materials and construction techniques, blending them into a new architectural language. The combination of wood, tiles, and concrete adds texture, color, and warmth to the building’s core.
The wave-shaped, adjustable wooden louvers draw inspiration from traditional city porches. These blinds filter sunlight entering the balconies, improving indoor thermal comfort and creating dynamic plays of light and shadow on the building’s exterior.
Striving for coherence within the urban context, the design reflects the industrial character of Bobreno by integrating materials typical of local factory buildings—such as handmade bricks, tiles, and porches. Throughout, the project reinterprets existing construction systems and passive design solutions native to the area.
The building’s long façade, which includes a public staircase, is made up of rectangular tile grids. This design allows for continuous natural ventilation and daylight, casting ever-changing patterns of light and shadow in the entrance area.
Constructed to meet A-level energy standards and passive design criteria, the building features double-layer curtain walls that act as an efficient thermal envelope. Additionally, exterior walls and the roof are insulated with 10cm and 12cm layers, respectively, significantly enhancing energy efficiency and reducing consumption.
All apartments are equipped with a climate control system that uses floor heating and pneumatic renewable energy for air conditioning. Interior design balances and harmonizes a variety of materials, while indoor lighting has been thoughtfully planned with adjustable LED lights that emit warm tones and allow light intensity control to save energy.
The shared courtyard on the ground floor and the rooftop swimming pool are designed as outdoor extensions of private living spaces, fostering a connection between indoor and outdoor life.
Project Drawings
▲ Plan View
▲ Plan View
▲ Standard Floor Plan
▲ Standard Floor Plan
▲ Plan View
▲ Elevation View
▲ Elevation View
▲ Sectional View
Project Information
Project Location: Barcelona, Spain
Architectural Design: Lola Domènech, Lussi+Halter
Area: 913.0 m²
Year of Completion: 2019
Photographer: Adrià Goula
Manufacturers: Technal, Cevica, Trass, Siemens, Duravit
Project Manager: Lola Domènech
Structural Design: Bernuz Fernandez arquitectes SLP
Management: Joan March
Systems: AiA instalaciones
Construction: BALDO SERVEIS I OBRES, S.L.
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