Project Description
Positive Home Barcelona new build for American clients 🌿🏡
Happy to show you this Passive House Plus near Barcelona, blending the iconic Eichler mid-century style with Mediterranean traditional feel.
Proud to say this is the 1st in Spain to be certified Passive house plus with solid wood structure and grey water recycling! A true innovation!
Designed for an American family seeking a sustainable, elegant and cosy home; this build delivers modern functionality, timeless design, and exceptional environmental performance being almost offgrid in electricity.
Ideal for the Californians owners who were looking to move to Barcelona-Spain.
The house offers American size comfort, European sustainability and a connection to its natural surroundings between the Mediterranean sea and the mountains.

This home was designed for an American couple from California (a writer and a video game programmer) who moved to Barcelona with their teenage son, their elderly-and-active mother and their beloved dog.
The writer had lived in different countries during her life like the UK, India, Panama, USA and Spain. Then after COVID, the couple decided to pursue their dream of living abroad, choosing an area that mirrored California’s natural beauty with a coastal landscape, mountains and Mediterranean lifestyle not far from Barcelona. The writer, who had lived in Spain years before, had already fallen in love with this Catalan region and envisioned their future in a sustainable home connected with nature

Eichler Style, Mediterranean Charm, and Scandinavian Touch
The Positive Home integrates modern simplicity of Eichler-style design with the timeless warmth of Mediterranean aesthetics and Scandinavian influence.
The Eichler inspiration is evident in its open-plan layout, welcoming cantilevers, expansive glass walls (despite the Catalan regulations), and fluid in&out transitions, creating an inviting light-filled living environment.
Mediterranean charm is brought in through shaded terraces, earthy tones, and architectural elements designed for comfort in the sun-soaked climate.
Adding a Scandinavian touch, the home’s solid wooden structure is left uncovered in select ceilings and walls to show its natural texture while bringing warmth and a minimalist beauty to the space.
Together, these elements create a harmonious and timeless living experience that bridges Californian unique features with the Mediterranean warm style and also Scandinavian wooden elegance. This fusion of styles results in a unique home that is both innovative and deeply connected to its surroundings.


Living Room
The living room is the heart of the Positive Home, designed as a welcoming and flexible space for both needs; either family’s intimate moments or guests’ entertaining.
The design embraces an open-plan concept, connecting the living to the dining, kitchen and outdoor areas for family functionality or for free flow on big celebrations. Also positioned to take advantage of the home’s south-facing orientation, it is surrounded by full-height windows that flood the space with natural light and offer uninterrupted views of the garden and surrounding landscape bringing the outdoors in and filling the room with natural light.
A special feature of the room is the exposed CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) wood structure. The wooden structure is left uncovered in the 4 meters tall ceiling and also some special walls (like the floating staircase wall). This adds a natural, raw texture that complements the home’s minimalist design. This visible wooden framework, combined with stylish furniture and a neutral color palette, creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, blending modern design with natural elements to foster a sense of tranquility and comfort.
Whether hosting gatherings or enjoying quiet family evenings; this living room provides the perfect balance of comfort and style.


Floating Wood Staircase
A central feature of the Positive Home is the stunning five-meter-long floating wood staircase, a masterpiece of custom design that combines elegance and functionality.
Crafted from high-quality wood and painted in soft, earthy tones that complement the home’s natural palette, the staircase connects the entrance foyer to the first floor with striking sophistication. Its strategic location designed near the welcoming cantilever at the entrance enhances the sense of arrival, drawing guests from the outdoors into the heart of the home and through the staircase into the more intimate areas upstairs.
An integrated LED railing illuminates the steps, adding a subtle, modern touch while ensuring safety. Beneath the staircase lies an interior garden, bringing a lush, natural element into the home and while enhancing its connection to the outdoors and creating a focal point visible from the foyer that also serves as a gentle division with the hallway and open kitchen.
The open, suspended design allows natural light to flow freely, highlighting the greenery below and establishing the staircase as both a functional and sculptural centerpiece that sets the tone for the home’s warm and inviting atmosphere.

Master Bedroom
The master bedroom in the Positive Home is a private paradise designed to balance luxury, comfort, and a seamless connection to nature. Surrounded by expansive windows, the room offers panoramic views that stretch from the Mediterranean Sea to the nearby mountains; creating a serene and light-filled atmosphere.
At its heart is a custom-designed island bed positioned to maximize these breathtaking vistas. The bed features a unique headboard crafted with oak details and designed in warm tones that echo the floating staircase, uniting the home’s customly designed elements. This headboard incorporates built-in nightstands, a chest of drawers and integrated night lighting that casts a soft, warm glow, creating a cozy and inviting ambiance for evenings.
Enhancing the experience, the room opens to a private terrace featuring a hot tub. Designed to reflect the tones and materials of the interior, the hot tub area offers a tranquil space to relax while overlooking the Mediterranean landscape.
A glass wall next to the entrance door faces the floating staircase allowing a side-to-side outdoor view and additional light to flow into the bedroom while maintaining a visual connection to the wooden wall, staircase and hallway.
The master suite also includes a spacious dressing room and a luxurious en-suite bathroom. The bathroom is outfitted with a double-sink vanity, a walk-in shower, and private access to the terrace with a hot tub. All positioned to take full advantage of natural light and the stunning views.

Thinking about building your Positive home?
Let’s see if we can help you with an online chat
book 1st call


Thinking about building your Positive home?
Let’s see if we can help you with an online chat
book 1st call

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
This Positive Home achieves exceptional energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, meeting the rigorous Passive House PLUS standards and also recycling greywaters.
Energy Efficiency
- Powered by a 10kW solar panel system with a single battery.
- Superior insulation and airtight construction reduce energy demand thanks to special windows.
- Designed to capture and retain solar heat, enabling year-round comfort with minimal energy use.
- Renovation air inside automatically, the oxygen levels inside are similar to those found in a forest.
Water harvest
- Equipped with rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling systems, ensuring sustainable irrigation practices in an area with droughts.
Wood Structure
- Built using Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), the house emphasizes renewable materials and quick assembly, with the structure completed in just five days.


GENERAL DESIGN
Inspired by the mid-century Eichler homes of Palm Springs, Mediterranean style and Scandinavian wood; the home achieves a harmonious blend of styles. The design emphasises warmth with wood finishes, an open-plan layout, and a welcoming atmosphere. A striking triangular cantilever defines the entrance, creating a memorable arrival experience.
Groundfloor Design:
Surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows on the south side, the ground floor provides ample natural light and panoramic views despite the strict Catalan rural regulations (windows wider than 140cm are forbidden). A five-meter floating staircase with LED light under the railing adds a dramatic centrepiece near the entrance.
First Floor Design:
Features three bedrooms, including a master suite, all surrounded by terraces. A shared bathroom with a skylight enhances the natural ambiance while offering a luxurious, spa-like experience.

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GROUNDFLOOR DESIGN
The ground floor is designed for comfort, functionality, and connection to nature.
A dramatic cantilever welcomes guests through double wooden doors into a spacious high foyer; offering access to the floating staircase, hallway, and living areas.
Living and Dining design:
The living room, with its sloped wood ceiling, triangular windows, and panoramic southern views, connects seamlessly to the dining area and open kitchen. The kitchen features a large island with a bar, blending style and practicality, complete with a built-in sound system and direct access to the outside dining area.
Wheel chair access:
An en-suite bedroom for the elderly mother includes full wheelchair accessibility of a private bathroom, and access to the garden. Surrounded also by full-height windows and tall ceilings for a nature-filled experience.
Functional spaces:
A separated TV room in the north is designed for immersive video gaming as one of the owners is a video games programmer. Practical spaces like a laundry, pantry, gym, storage and installations’ room are also located in the north, connected to an outdoor car access for daily convenience.



Thinking about building your Positive home?
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FIRST FLOOR DESIGN
Designed for family living, the first floor balances privacy and connection, with two additional bedrooms and a luxurious master suite.
Teenager’s Room:
A private terrace offers the teenager independence and a connection to nature.
Shared Bathroom:
A skylight above the shower floods the bathroom with natural light, complemented by rainforest-inspired hexagonal tiles and turquoise tones, creating a tranquil spa-like atmosphere.
Master Suite:
Features a private dressing room, en-suite bathroom, and a terrace with a hot tub overlooking the Mediterranean. Surrounded by windows with views of both the sea and mountains; the room centers on an island bed with a custom oak headboard, enhancing comfort and style.



Thinking about building your Positive home?
Let’s see if we can help you with an online chat
book 1st call
Team:
Itzel, Jesús, Jorge, Albert, Oriol, Stefan, Esther
ERA architects
+34 932 200 288
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