Mediterranean Courtyard House: Casa Tres Patis by TwoBo Arquitectura
Casa Tres Patis redefines the Mediterranean courtyard house, blending tradition, sustainability, and modern design into a sensory-rich living experience.
A Contemporary Interpretation of Mediterranean Living
In the serene plains of Empordà, just a few kilometers from the ancient Greco-Roman ruins of Empúries, Casa Tres Patis by TwoBo Arquitectura reimagines the Mediterranean courtyard house for the modern era. This 300 m² single-family home draws from both the timeless typology of the Mediterranean villa and the experimental spirit of California’s Case Study Houses, blending tradition and innovation into a cohesive living environment.
The architects, María Pancorbo, Alberto Twose, and Pablo Twose, envisioned a home where architecture is not placed in the landscape but becomes the landscape itself. The result is a residence that interacts seamlessly with light, wind, water, and the human body.
The Concept of Three Courtyards
Casa Tres Patis is organized around three distinct courtyards, each serving as a focal point of domestic life. The first courtyard functions as a social hub, shaded by a tree and equipped with a stone table, barbecue, climbing wisteria, and space for petanque. The second courtyard, inspired by the Roman impluvium, is a quiet retreat for contemplation. The third courtyard offers a serene aromatic garden, reminiscent of monastic cloisters, designed for intimate moments and sensory enjoyment.
These courtyards are not ornamental voids but lived spaces, shaping the rhythms of daily life and blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.
Pavilion-Based Architecture
The house consists of three lightweight pavilions, each tailored to specific uses. The main pavilion houses the kitchen, living room, bathroom, and master bedroom. A second pavilion contains the children’s rooms and laundry facilities. The third serves as a guest house and workshop.
Constructed with ceramic screens, wooden panels, metal structures, and expansive glass openings, the pavilions harmonize with their environment while offering flexibility and openness. Locally crafted materials, including blue ceramic tiles by Cerámica Ferrés, embed the home within its regional context and artisanal heritage.
Design Influences and Climate Responsiveness
Taking cues from Richard Neutra and the California Modern Movement, the volumes incorporate repetitive metal frames, shaded windows, and triangular screens that temper the intense Mediterranean sun. A protective stucco wall encircles the property, shielding it from the tramontane wind while framing curated views of the surrounding rural landscape.
Passive design strategies such as cross ventilation, optimal solar orientation, and natural shading work alongside active systems like solar panels and gray water recycling to achieve energy efficiency without compromising aesthetics.
A House for Slow Living
Casa Tres Patis is more than a home — it is an invitation to a slower pace of life, deeply connected to nature. Pathways flow seamlessly from interior to exterior, showers open onto courtyards, and every space is attuned to seasonal changes.
TwoBo Arquitectura’s design embodies a poetic reinterpretation of Mediterranean tradition, creating a home where well-being emerges from the harmony between architecture, landscape, and the human body. It is a place to live with all the senses engaged, offering a vision of sustainable beauty rooted in cultural heritage.
All the photographs are works of Jose Hevia
