A residence in northern Spain blends traditional aesthetics with contemporary designs
Twobo Arquitectura's Contemporary Roman Villa in Girona
In the heart of Girona, Spain, a modern interpretation of ancient Roman villa architecture has emerged. Known as Casa Tres Patis, this remarkable courtyard house is the brainchild of Twobo Arquitectura, a Barcelona-based firm founded by María Pancorbo, Alberto Twose, and Pablo Twose in 2007.
The design of Casa Tres Patis is a harmonious blend of classical architectural typologies and Roman villa elements. The house centers around three square courtyards, or "tres patis," each serving as a vibrant hub of domestic life with its unique character and function.
The first courtyard is an open and social space, complete with a tree-shaded stone table, barbecue, and areas for leisure activities such as petanque. This area evokes the social life of a village square. The second courtyard reinterprets the Roman impluvium, a shallow pond used in ancient Roman homes to collect rainwater and cool the interior. In Casa Tres Patis, this courtyard serves as a contemplative and peaceful space. The third courtyard is intimate and serene, housing an aromatic garden reminiscent of monastic cloisters, offering calm and privacy.
The house layout reflects classical typologies by arranging independent pavilions around these courtyards, similar to the compartmentalized yet integrated design of traditional Mediterranean and Roman villas. Each pavilion supports specific household functions, such as living, sleeping, children's rooms, guest house, and workshop, designed as almost lightweight, mobile structures.
The architects drew direct inspiration from the grand Roman villa layout, especially in the use of the pool that mirrors the impluvium concept, creating a natural water feature that also helps cool the house. The heavy and monumental use of concrete inside and out evokes the enduring quality of ancient ruins, while terracotta tiles, ceramic screens, iroko wood panels, and glass walls create an interplay of solidity and transparency, light and shade.
The house incorporates classical and ancient Roman villa elements by organizing volumes around carefully choreographed courtyards as focal domestic spaces, including water features inspired by the Roman impluvium for environmental comfort and symbolism. It uses a mix of monumental materials (concrete) and delicate, regionally sourced materials (ceramics, wood) to balance durability with warmth. The spatial relationships are structured to foreground light, privacy, framed landscape views, and transitions between interior and exterior spaces, in tribute to modernist masters influenced by classical openness and structure.
Casa Tres Patis is enclosed by tall roughly plastered walls for protection from northern winds and to create a sense of separation from the outside world. The largest structure contains the living room, dining area, kitchen, and primary bedroom suite. One blue tiled chimney feature is located inside the main living space, adjoining the stairs to a mezzanine level. Another blue tiled chimney feature is located adjoining an outdoor kitchen besides the pool. The smallest patio is a kitchen garden.
The new courtyard house is a testament to Twobo Arquitectura's commitment to blending timeless architectural principles from Roman villas and classical typologies with modern sustainable and domestic living demands.
The contemporary Roman Villa, Casa Tres Patis, designed by Twobo Arquitectura, seamlessly combines lifestyle choices with home-and-garden design, creating a harmonious blend of ancient Roman villa elements and modern domestic living. Each courtyard serves a unique purpose, with the first serving as a social hub, the second as a contemplative space, and the third as an aromatic garden, offering privacy and calm. This stunning home showcases Twobo Arquitectura's dedication to integrating timeless architectural principles with modern home-and-garden aesthetics.
