The Green House project in Barcelona by Anna & Eugeni Bach showcases an innovative approach to enjoying the outdoors. By turning the existing garden into an open-air room, the architects have created a space where cooking, eating, and socializing can all take place under the shade of a dense ficus tree.
This project not only enhances the living experience but also creates a peaceful oasis within the bustling neighborhood, all while making the most of the pleasant Mediterranean climate.
The original house lacked a living room, with the kitchen and dining room on the ground floor and bedrooms on the first floor. However, the architects ingeniously renovated and expanded the house by relocating the kitchen outside, freeing up space for a spacious living room and dining area inside. By ensuring that all these spaces connect with the patio, they have achieved seamless views and a harmonious connection with the outdoors.
The new structure, resembling a greenhouse, is crafted with wood and glass, perfectly situated to avoid excessive sunlight thanks to the surrounding buildings’ shadows. Moreover, the transparent design allows natural light to flood the rest of the ground floor. The extension’s new facade breaks away from the property’s vertical line, preserving the two arches that once enclosed the interior space.
These arches now serve as a transition between the living-dining room and the new gallery, housing the kitchen and study. By deviating from the existing building’s guidelines, the new envelope introduces subtle inflections that optimize space in the areas of higher activity, both inside and in the patio.
Small modifications have been implemented on the first floor to the furniture within the rooms, while the living room/study has been reconfigured, ensuring that unnecessary alterations are avoided in other areas.