Poblenou

City Block & Studio House

Context

2nd Semester Project (Professor Andrea Deplazes), BA Architecture, ETH Zurich

Location

Zurich, Switzerland & Barclona, Spain

Year

2020

Materials

Model (Cardboard, Plastic), Hand Drawing, Photography

Citylock and Studiohouse represent a first exploration into urban-scale architectural design, located in Barcelona’s dynamic Poblenou district. The project envisions a reinterpretation of the traditional Barcelona city block—renowned for its Mediterranean climate, vibrant street life, and human-scaled urban fabric—through the creation of a new block composed entirely of studio houses. The block is organized around a hidden neighbourhood square, a quiet communal heart accessible through a network of alleys. These alleyways vary in width and light exposure: the broader, sunlit paths lead visitors toward the square, while the narrower, shaded alleys create intimate transitions to private entrances. Along these routes, the public gardens and open studios activate the ground floor, hosting ateliers, workshops, small offices, and shops that merge seamlessly with the urban realm. Each studio house is designed as an L-shaped volume divided into two distinct zones: a public workspace and a private living area. The ground floor studio opens completely to the exterior through a full-height, retractable glass façade—transforming the courtyard into an extension of the workspace and blurring the boundary between inside and outside. These shaded courtyards provide comfortable microclimates, ideal for creative work in Barcelona’s warm weather. Private staircases lead from the side entrances to the upper living spaces and rooftop terraces, located either on the second or third floors depending on typology. The terraces offer a retreat above the dense urban block, reconnecting inhabitants with light, air, and the Mediterranean sky—completing a balance between public vibrancy and private domesticity within the evolving fabric of Poblenou.