Not everyone needs a large house, a vast garden, or rooms that will never be used. This was the case of a couple who wanted to remain in their neighbourhood without being burdened by energy bills. Their plot was a ruined, narrow and deep house, just twenty palms wide—a traditional Catalan measure (around four metres) that has historically defined the width of the row houses and the rhythm of the city’s streets.

In this small piece of city fabric, we began a project rooted from the outset in the rational use of all available resources—materials, energy and budget. The old house was deconstructed, carefully recovering and separating materials to give them a second life and reduce the environmental impact associated with waste.
The new house is organised over two floors. On the ground floor, a single kitchen–living–dining space opens onto the courtyard, while the area typically reserved for a car is instead used as an entrance hall with bicycle parking, laundry and storage. At the centre of the house, a bathroom and a completely open staircase bring natural light deep into the interior and create visual continuity between all spaces. On the first floor, a bedroom, a study and a bathroom open to the stairwell—nothing more is needed.

The structure responds directly to the layout of the house. The entire first floor is conceived as a closed box of cross-laminated timber (CLT), resting on the existing party walls. The two ground-floor roof sections are built with timber beams and slats, spanning between the timber box and the ground-floor façades. The street façade is restored, recovering the original appearance of the house.

PHOTOS BY Marta Vidal

PHOTOS BY Marta Vidal

PHOTOS BY Marta Vidal

PHOTOS BY Marta Vidal

PHOTOS BY Marta Vidal

False ceilings and unnecessary finishes were deliberately avoided, favouring natural and sustainable materials. The structure, windows, shutters, furniture and doors are all made of wood. Insulation is provided by wood fibre, and the façades are clad with cork panels. Inside, the upper floor benefits from the warmth of exposed timber. On the ground floor, ceramic tiles from El Bruc and brickwork from El Segrià bring freshness, forming a carefully chosen palette that helps regulate temperature and humidity throughout the house.

The decision to dispense with mechanical heating and cooling relies on a highly optimised envelope and the use of bioclimatic strategies. In summer, cross ventilation is reinforced by roof windows that enhance the stack effect, cooling the house at night. During the day, traditional shutters protect from direct sunlight and ceiling fans add comfort. In the courtyard, a pergola and vegetation provide shade and help reduce the heat island effect. In winter, every ray of sunlight is captured and warmth is retained thanks to effective insulation.

Today, this couple lives with exactly what they need. No air-conditioning systems, no redundant rooms and no soaring energy bills. In return, they enjoy twenty palms’ worth of a house that breathes, respects the climate and adapts to all their needs.

Collaborators: Josep Maria Fosalba (Oftècnics), energy consultant and technical architect; Míriam Molina (MVA), structural consultant; Pol Miret (Recursos Urbans), reuse consultant