“It called our attention by its shape, size, and the natural light of it,” Isabela writes, explaining that the history behind the home really attracted them to the space as well when they first visited it. “It was built to be a summer house for a Barcelonese traditional family,” she explains of the house that’s now the full-time home of their family, which includes a 5-year-old daughter as well as a dog named Oli.

While the house’s history was attractive, the space wasn’t exactly pristine, with Isabela explaining that a “renovation was definitely needed.” Before the remodel, there were a staggering seven bedrooms, a laboratory kitchen, and a big attic, and she says that more than 30 doors divided the home’s rooms.

“We saw the potential and decided to look for architects that could respect and preserve the history and original elements,” Isabela writes. “When we found Twobo Arquitectura, they showed us all the signs of modernist Catalan architecture that the house preserved, and the project was designed to respect the art of it.”

Isabela says that octagon-shaped rooms are a “classic element of Catalan modernist houses.” An example of the architects working with the house’s historical elements is the stunning octagon-shaped sofa designed in the living room.

Preserving the floors — another classic historical element in the house — was a challenge because they ended up taking a lot of walls out to improve the home’s layout and flow. But where those walls were removed, holes in the floor tiles were left behind. “The solution was then to remove pieces of the floor we had underneath the closets around the house (very carefully) and place them into the new spot, without losing the original lines,” Isabela explains. “Very hard work from the constructors.”

Isabela worked in the fashion industry for many years before deciding to switch to a slower pace of life after their daughter was born. “I now work for a global specialty coffee company, 100% remote, and I try to live the Mediterranean life to the fullest,” she explains. “Diogo works in technology, but he’s an enthusiast of modern architecture and passionate about life in the countryside.”

• Tiles — Ferrés Ceràmicas

• Miguel Milà Lamp for Trama — Discontinued
• Eames Elephant – Vitra

• Safari Chair — Domestico Shop
• Mushroom Puff — Bloomingville Mini
• Coderch Disa Lamp — Domestico Shop
• Letamendi Table — Custom Twobo Architects
• Wall Art — Regina Menezes

• MVV Lamp — Marset
• Custom Wooden Table — Dtot Serveis
• Globus Chair — Stua

• Stool — Nuta

• Ceiling Fan — Faro Barcelona
• Safari Chair — Carl Hansen & Son
• Painting — Jarek Puczel 

• Akari 14A Lamp — Isamu Noguchi
• Mirror — IKEA

Thanks, Isabela and Diogo!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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