An Adaptable Barcelona Home That Prioritises Light and Openness

Designed around a brief that prioritised light, openness, and flexibility, Cristina Porta Díaz and Patrick Boehner of atelier pbo reimagined this once dark and cramped 45sqm/484sqft apartment in Barcelona. Rather than dividing the plan into separate rooms, they built a compact central “box” for the bedroom, bathroom, and office, leaving the rest of the space open as a bright, shared living area beneath restored Catalan vaulted ceilings. A home of this size relies on smart, subtle decisions. Here are five details that show how the architects made the space unique and full of light.

1. A Movable Kitchen Cabinet That Reconfigures the Room
‍‍2. A Latch Window That Connects the Office and the Social Space‍
‍3. A Hammock That Creates a Flexible Chill-Out Zone‍‍
‍4. Hidden Storage Tucked Above the Bathroom 
‍5. A Half Wall That Hides the Toilet Tank and Doubles as a Shower Shelf

1. A Movable Kitchen Cabinet That Reconfigures the Room

The kitchen was designed by Porta Díaz and Boehner as three lower units rather than a single fixed block, allowing the social area to shift depending on the day.Built withIKEA carcasses and customised high-pressure laminate fronts by CUBRO, the pieces sit low to keep sight lines clear and the space feeling open and airy. One unit, finished in a warm wood veneer so it reads more like living-room furniture than a kitchen element, sits on discreet casters. Most days, it stores dishware, pantry items, and a well-used bar, but when the couple hosts friends, it becomes a serving counter, a music table, or is simply rolled aside to clear room for a dance floor. Because it shares the same height as the other cabinetry, it naturally extends the worktop when needed, yet reads more like a piece of living-room furniture than part of the kitchen.

2. A Latch Window That Connects the Office and the Social Space

Instead of closing the office off from the rest of the apartment, the architects opened a small internal window between the desk and the kitchen. A simple timber latch allows drinks and plates to be passed between the two rooms during gatherings, while the opening itself brings daylight deeper into the plan. Most days, it acts as a visual link: the desk faces the window, connecting the workspace to views of the dining table and balcony beyond. The latch also becomes a display ledge for plants and personal objects. When the office is used as a guest room, the window stays closed for privacy. This simple design element brings lightness and a sense of playfulness to the space.

3. A Hammock That Creates a Flexible Chill-Out Zone

In the space carved out by the kitchen, Porta Díaz and Boehner installed two heavy-duty hooks to hold a hammock – a gift brought from Brazil by Porta Díaz’s mother. When the hammock is up, the corner becomes a place for reading and resting, especially during hot Barcelona afternoons when the apartment stays cool under its microcement floor. When friends come over, the hammock is unhooked in seconds, clearing the floor for yoga, workouts, or for projecting films on the blank wall.

4. Hidden Storage Tucked Above the Bathroom

To make every centimetre work, the architects lowered the bathroom ceiling to create a long storage loft accessed from the office and bedroom. Behind a set of discreet doors, the space holds suitcases, seasonal clothes, camping gear, wine boxes, and other things that don’t need to be seen every day. A simple foldable ladder is used when needed. From the hallway, the box appears to float slightly below the vaulted ceiling, reducing its visual bulk and helping the apartment feel taller. The hidden volume solves a practical problem, using what would normally be dead space without interrupting the architecture.

5. A Half Wall That Hides the Toilet Tank and Doubles as a Shower Shelf

The bathroom is organised into two zones: a bright first area for the toilet and sink, and a more private shower niche lined in terracotta tiles. Instead of trying to hide the plumbing, the architects used the thickness of the tank wall to their advantage. The wall both conceals the toilet system and forms a generous shelf inside the shower, keeping products off the floor and within easy reach. Light still floods into the corner, but the slight change in height and colour makes the shower feel more enclosed and intimate.

These five elements show how the apartment adapts, but the character of the home is also shaped by smaller moments. The Catalan vaults catch daylight as it moves through the rooms, the balcony pulls views of the street into the living space, and the microcement floor stays cool through long summer afternoons. The photographs below by Pol Viladoms highlight the materials and proportions that give the renovation its character and sense of space.