Narrow House Renovation: House of Pipu and Marta by Menhir Arquitectura

A Creative Renovation of a 3.5-Meter-Wide Urban Dwelling in Spain

Nestled in the historic heart of Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain, the House of Pipu and Marta by Menhir Arquitectura is a striking example of how a narrow house renovation can breathe new life into a compact urban plot. Measuring just 3.5 meters in width and 35 meters in length, the property posed a spatial challenge transformed into architectural opportunity through strategic intervention, sectional planning, and preservation of original materials.

Sectional Architecture that Elevates Spatial Flow

Originally comprising a ground floor, mezzanine, first floor, and attic, the existing structure offered limited ceiling heights and irregular levels. Menhir Arquitectura responded with a sectional approach—each space assigned a unique elevation—creating a cascading sequence of rooms. This deliberate layering allows the home to flow between communal and private areas while embracing vertical and horizontal circulation.

Seamless Integration of Old and New

Only the street-facing facade, key structural slabs, and the robust party walls were retained, meticulously dismantled, and restored. The restoration emphasizes texture and material honesty, enhancing the home’s identity through its heritage fabric. Stone party walls are left exposed throughout, offering a tactile journey from the entrance to the attic, while the new interventions integrate seamlessly into the old footprint.

Garden Living: A Pavilion Immersed in Nature

At the rear, a high-walled patio garden defined by mature mulberry trees becomes the heart of the home. The living room is relocated here, encased in glass, and topped by a monolithic concrete slab roof. This new pavilion is subtly detached from the original structure by an intermediate courtyard, creating a moment of transition and planting one of the original mulberry trees as a symbol of continuity.

Green Roof and Private Terraces

The roof of the garden pavilion is transformed into a green rooftop terrace, offering direct access from the main bedroom and reinforcing the vertical integration of nature. This private retreat merges sustainable design with thoughtful architecture, providing outdoor living within the confines of an urban envelope.

Passive Solar Design and Efficient Climate Control

With a southeast-facing glass facade, the house is designed to maximize passive solar gain in winter while utilizing traditional Alicante shutters and the mass of the party walls for summer shading. Energy efficiency is further ensured through underfloor heating powered by an aerothermal system, while careful attention to thermal insulation, airtight detailing, and bridge-free construction enhances environmental performance.

An Urban Sanctuary of Architectural Precision

More than a renovation, the House of Pipu and Marta exemplifies how narrow urban dwellings can be reimagined through intelligent design, sustainable strategies, and spatial creativity. With its rhythmic transitions, material honesty, and refined detailing, the house becomes a modern sanctuary—where past and present coexist, and every square meter is activated with purpose and beauty.