Casa 5x5 | Twobo

A small house found in the center of the Arenys de Mar town. A ruined testimony of abandonment. A protagonist, three times forgotten in its own story: The first time, a surreal loss of memory, this place was ignored by City Hall when everything around it was restructured in a new urban project. The second time, a vital loss of memory, when the old resident reached the final years of her life and had to be moved to a elderly home (the house was illegally occupied for over a year after that). The third time, a natural loss of memory, washed over by the passing of time and water, leaking and breaking through the rooftop structure down, in to the house. 

Looking at the planes, there is only a 5x5 meter area, all sides shut with only one wall opening towards San Zenon street. A 3 meter wide road with very narrow sidewalks. No options for an opening on 3 sides of the house. Standing inside, the only observable thing is a neighbor house in front, so close in fact, that this forgotten house could merge itself with its surroundings and no one would notice. 

And this natural passing of time, of water, of erosion showed us a way. The history behind the house had left a hole for sunlight to shine through with an unconventional proposition: Could it be that the solution for this tiny house was losing more surface area? 

We made the best out of the light that came down through the collapsed rooftop, and we continued the work the water had begun. We open another hole in the deck of the mid level floor all the way down to the lower level to let light flood the place without constraints. Simultaneously, we made a gateway where there was only a door before. A passage to welcome people in as an extension of the road outside. 

The backbone was set, a rulebook that would orchestrate the rest of the pieces falling in harmoniously: A kitchen, a bathroom, a header, a closet, a strategic step. The pieces would rest on the floor or on the frame of the stairs, a rack that rises freely across the entire height of the house. 

The ruin that was, is no more. A few scars, textures and blue hints remain. With new residents the passing of time seems to slow down. This house will be inhabited. This home will make memories, once more. It will be remembered. Not forgotten. For a little while longer. 

Collaborators: Ourania Chamilaki, Xavi Poch, Anna Sala, Raquel Vicente, Víctor Díaz-Asensio, Claudia Canalda

Structure: Jordi Granada 

Photography: José Hevia