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Villa V: A New Direction for Light in an Old Home

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RESIDENTIAL · BARCELONA

Villa V stands in Barcelona’s Poblenou neighbourhood. Set between party walls, the original house was 4.7 metres wide and 18 metres deep, with daylight entering only from the front and rear. Aramé Studio opened a new skylight to bring light into the middle of the house.

A blue sofa lines one side of the living area, with the central staircase and dining table visible beyond.
A blue sofa lines one side of the living area, with the central staircase and dining table visible beyond.

Opening a bright centre

The house had grown through successive additions over the years, with three volumes built above the original ground floor. Basic construction methods and materials had left a series of dark, disconnected rooms. The renovation removed the central upper-floor volume, creating a double-height void beneath a large skylight.

The main staircase sits directly below the skylight. Timber flights rise around the void, and an upper walkway crosses along one side, offering a view down to the ground-floor living area.

The timber staircase rises through the double-height space, lit from above by a skylight.
The timber staircase rises through the double-height space, lit from above by a skylight.
A spherical pendant hangs over the concrete table; glazed doors behind it open to the patio.
A spherical pendant hangs over the concrete table; glazed doors behind it open to the patio.
Timber balustrades surround the upper stair opening beneath the skylight.
Timber balustrades surround the upper stair opening beneath the skylight.

Everyday life at a long table

The kitchen, bathrooms, storage and built-in furniture line the perimeter of the ground floor, leaving a continuous living area in the centre that connects to the rear patio. Timber kitchen cabinets stand against the wall, with deep-blue tiles behind the worktop. The sofa and fireplace occupy opposite sides of the living area.

A cast-in-situ concrete island-table stands in the middle. Its thick top projects outwards, leaving space for chairs underneath. The fixed table serves as a place for the family to eat, work and gather.

Patchy finishes remain on the old wall beside a timber cabinet, with a black fireplace set on the long low ledge.
Patchy finishes remain on the old wall beside a timber cabinet, with a black fireplace set on the long low ledge.
Timber kitchen cabinets meet deep-blue wall tiles, while the concrete island-table projects forwards.
Timber kitchen cabinets meet deep-blue wall tiles, while the concrete island-table projects forwards.
Looking from the kitchen towards the living area, the table, staircase and fireplace appear in succession.
Looking from the kitchen towards the living area, the table, staircase and fireplace appear in succession.
The concrete top extends out above timber cabinetry, with a wooden chair alongside.
The concrete top extends out above timber cabinetry, with a wooden chair alongside.
A black fireplace and flue stand against the old wall, with patchy finishes visible on either side.
A black fireplace and flue stand against the old wall, with patchy finishes visible on either side.
A blue sofa runs along the wall beside the foot of the timber stair.
A blue sofa runs along the wall beside the foot of the timber stair.

Leaving the old walls exposed

Walls beneath the skylight retain layers of material, repairs and uneven surfaces from successive phases of construction. Patchy finishes sit beside new, light-coloured timber elements. The staircase uses traditional timber construction, with its members and connections clearly visible.

The design team drew on the centrally placed stair halls of historic residences without adopting their elaborate finishes. Repairs to the old walls, exposed connections in the timber stair and the cast-concrete tabletop are visible together in the renovated interior, alongside materials from different periods of the house’s construction.

Exposed overhead elements are visible above the upper walkway, with a timber balustrade along the opening.
Exposed overhead elements are visible above the upper walkway, with a timber balustrade along the opening.
Viewed from upstairs, the blue sofa and footstool sit below the double-height space.
Viewed from upstairs, the blue sofa and footstool sit below the double-height space.
A white brick wall and timber balustrade flank the walkway, with the skylight ahead.
A white brick wall and timber balustrade flank the walkway, with the skylight ahead.
Timber balustrades surround the void, and neighbouring buildings are visible through the glazing above.
Timber balustrades surround the void, and neighbouring buildings are visible through the glazing above.
Timber flights and balustrades rise alongside a wall with a circular window.
Timber flights and balustrades rise alongside a wall with a circular window.
A doorway, walkway and skylight align in depth, with a circular opening in the wall to the right.
A doorway, walkway and skylight align in depth, with a circular opening in the wall to the right.
A long ledge runs below the window in an upper-floor room, beside a circular window.
A long ledge runs below the window in an upper-floor room, beside a circular window.
A circular window casts a patch of light on the floor, with a radiator mounted on the wall below the window.
A circular window casts a patch of light on the floor, with a radiator mounted on the wall below the window.
Looking up from below the stair, timber treads, balustrades and the skylight overlap in view.
Looking up from below the stair, timber treads, balustrades and the skylight overlap in view.
The house sits in a row along the street, its low façade adjoining the buildings on either side.
The house sits in a row along the street, its low façade adjoining the buildings on either side.
Arched openings remain in the street façade, with upper windows arranged below the cornice.
Arched openings remain in the street façade, with upper windows arranged below the cornice.
Glazed doors open onto the rear patio, beneath a rectangular window and a circular window.
Glazed doors open onto the rear patio, beneath a rectangular window and a circular window.

The renovation begins with daylight at the centre of the old house, placing the staircase beneath a skylight and opening the ground floor into a living area connected to the rear patio.

Project credits

Project — Villa V
Location — Poblenou, Barcelona, Spain
Type — Residential renovation
Project period — 2022–2025
Architectural and interior renovation — Aramé Studio
Photography — Bani del Rio
Images and original feature — Leibal
Project source — Aramé Studio
Editorial adaptation — 01DES

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