h3o architects renovates 19th-century Barcelona home into luminous Villa Parque

Barcelona-based firm h3o architects has completed Villa Parque, a comprehensive renovation of a 240-square-meter 19th-century single-family home in the Gràcia neighborhood. The project, designed for a couple returning to their childhood district, reorganizes the house into three distinct zones: an upper floor for daytime social life with kitchen, living, and dining areas; a semi-basement level for private bedrooms opening to the exterior; and a rear garden that extends the adjacent urban park. Key interventions include a zigzagging geometry inspired by natural relief, exposed Catalan vaults, original hydraulic tile floors, and a Klein-blue staircase that becomes a spatial experience. The renovation prioritizes energy efficiency with complete insulation, aerothermal climate control, and rainwater harvesting for irrigation. Exterior materials include traditional render, ceramic window sills from La Bisbal, and iconic blinds from Persiana Barcelona. The garden uses low-water Mediterranean species and metal mesh for climbing plants. Photographs by Jose Hevia document the project.