Turning dark & narrow apartment into luminous, plant-filled home oasis

In the heart of Barcelona's Eixample district, a long, narrow apartment—typical of the city’s early 20th-century “shotgun” floor plans—has been transformed into a flowing, plant-filled home-studio for a couple by the young architects of Twobo. Dubbed Casa del Ebanista ("House of the Cabinetmaker") in tribute to its former artisan resident, the space now blends old and new, warmth and minimalism. Twobo Arquitectura's sensitive, low-budget renovation keeps the original structure intact—avoiding unnecessary demolition—while introducing clarity and purpose to the elongated layout. With a focus on natural light, indoor greenery, and a sequence of breathable, multi-use rooms, the apartment's transformation feels both architectural and atmospheric. A central timber spine organizes the space without closing it off, acting as both storage and screen. It separates the more public living-kitchen area from the bedroom and studio in back, allowing the couple to live and work without friction. At once serene and efficient, this renovation is a masterclass in flow—both in the feng shui sense and in how movement, air, and light animate the entire home. The result is a luminous, deeply personal retreat that honors the apartment’s past while opening up to a more flexible, modern life. https://two-bo.com/ On *faircompanies: https://faircompanies.com/videos/flow-light-turn-old-barcelona-apartment-into-couples-ideal-home-studio/