A striking 300-square-meter family home near Barcelona showcases how traditional Mediterranean design principles can be reimagined for modern living. Casa Tres Patis, or House of Three Patios, was designed by local architecture firm Twobo Arquitectura and demonstrates their innovative approach to organizing residential spaces around outdoor courtyards.
Located in Albons, close to the ancient Greek ruins of Empúries, the house divides living spaces into three steel and concrete-framed pavilions. Each pavilion is strategically positioned around three distinct patios that serve as what the architects call the "foundational element" of Mediterranean dwellings. A covered concrete walkway connects the northern living volume to the central bedroom pavilion and the southern guest areas, garage, and workshop.
"We wanted to recover the patio as a foundational element of Mediterranean dwelling already present in Greek and Roman architecture and make it the true gravitational center of the project," studio founder Pablo Twose explained. "The house is conceived from the patio: the aim was to create an autonomous domestic landscape, with its own internal logic, almost like a microcosm, where open space is as habitable and essential as the built."
The three external patios each reference different traditional Mediterranean typologies, creating unique atmospheric experiences throughout the home. The entrance patio features a central tree surrounded by a pétanque court, designed to evoke the social atmosphere of traditional town squares. Adjacent to the large kitchen and dining area, this space serves as the home's primary social hub.
The second patio incorporates a shallow pool that pays homage to the impluvium found in Roman homes. These traditional rainwater collection pools were historically used for bathing and passive cooling, and the modern interpretation continues to provide natural climate control for the residence. This water feature creates a serene focal point visible from multiple interior spaces.
Positioned at the southern end of the site, the third patio features an aromatic herb garden inspired by monastic cloisters. This garden is strategically located alongside an outdoor kitchen and dining area, allowing residents to harvest fresh herbs while cooking and entertaining outdoors. The design reinforces the connection between indoor and outdoor living that characterizes Mediterranean architecture.
The home's layout deliberately requires residents to move through these patios when transitioning between different areas of the house. "The project understands the house as an open diagram, where the transition from one place to another defines the different programs and the experience of inhabiting," Twose noted. "The layout enables a shared yet autonomous way of living, and reinforces the idea of the patio as a communal core. Life flows porously between these movements, between patios and pavilions."
The material palette reflects what Twose describes as a "dialogue between the industrial and the handcrafted." Steel-framed and concrete structures are balanced against screens of hollow brickwork and areas of hand-applied lime plaster. This approach creates visual interest while honoring both contemporary construction methods and traditional Mediterranean craftsmanship techniques.
Interior spaces continue this material philosophy, featuring tilework and dark wood ceilings, wall panels, and built-in storage that soften the exposed white-painted steelwork and glossy concrete floors. The dark wood ceiling treatments add warmth and acoustic comfort while maintaining the clean, modern aesthetic throughout the living spaces.
Twobo Arquitectura was established in Barcelona in 2007 by Pablo and Alberto Twose alongside María Pancorbo. The firm has gained recognition for projects that thoughtfully integrate contemporary design with regional architectural traditions. Casa Tres Patis represents their ongoing exploration of how historical Mediterranean building types can inform modern residential design while addressing contemporary lifestyle needs and environmental considerations.
