Fisherman’s House in Cadaqués is the rehabilitation of a century-old dwelling embedded in the historic fabric of this coastal Catalan village. Conceived as a careful balance between conservation and adaptation, the project restores a deteriorated fisherman’s house and reconfigures it into a contemporary four-level home rooted in local construction traditions.
Fisherman’s House in Cadaqués Technical Information
- Architects: Bea Portabella + Jordi Pagès
- Location: Cadaqués, Girona, Spain
- Gross Area: 326 m2 | 3,509 Sq. Ft.
- Project Years: 2022 – 2024
- Photographs: © David Zarzoso
The intervention seeks to preserve the soul of the house by reinforcing what was already there, allowing light and air to reorganize the interior without erasing its memory.
– Bea Portabella
Context, Typology, and Heritage Framework
Located on a pedestrian square within the dense historic core of Cadaqués, the house occupies a compact 110-square-meter plot typical of the village’s maritime fabric. Its narrow footprint and vertical stacking reflect a typology shaped by proximity to the harbor and the need to build efficiently within tightly bounded parcels. The rehabilitation engages this context not as a picturesque backdrop but as a set of physical and cultural constraints that inform every design decision.
The original structure, over a century old, is defined by 50-centimeter load-bearing stone walls, timber-beam ceilings on the upper levels, and a Catalan vaulted ceiling at ground level. Years of neglect had left the building in advanced deterioration, yet its constructive logic remained legible. The architects retained these vernacular systems, reinforcing rather than replacing them, thereby maintaining the tactile continuity of stone, ceramic, and wood that anchors the house to local building culture.
The street façade, with its white limewashed surface and restrained openings, has been carefully preserved. Existing carpentry was restored and repainted in a deep green tone common to the town. By avoiding conspicuous alteration, the project sustains the visual coherence of Cadaqués’ streetscape and reinforces the collective memory embedded in its architecture.
Structural Strategy and Spatial Reconfiguration
The intervention combines structural consolidation with a complete rethinking of the interior layout. Previously fragmented and dark, the rooms were reorganized into a vertically coherent sequence across four levels. Reinforcements were inserted discreetly within the thickness of the stone walls and floors, allowing the original construction to remain structurally legible.
Selective openings were carved into load-bearing walls to establish visual continuity between adjacent spaces. These insertions were calibrated to respect structural logic while enabling daylight to penetrate deep into the plan. Rather than dissolving boundaries entirely, the new apertures frame oblique views and layered thresholds, enhancing spatial depth within the compact envelope.
A pivotal gesture is the introduction of a small interior patio. Set into the plot, it channels light and air into the center of the house and ventilates a ground-floor room partially carved into the natural rock substrate. This addition improves environmental performance while creating a new spatial void around which the reorganized plan centers.
Light, Verticality, and Domestic Atmosphere
The domestic program is distributed according to a clear vertical hierarchy. The ground floor, defined by its ceramic vault, serves as a flexible, service-oriented space that can accommodate storage or informal activities. Above, the first floor consolidates the kitchen, dining, and living areas into a continuous social domain, visually and physically connected to the patio.
The second floor contains bedrooms and bathrooms, spaces of greater enclosure and acoustic separation. At the top, the house opens onto a terrace oriented toward the Mediterranean horizon. This final level transforms the compact dwelling into an observatory of light and climate, establishing a dialogue between interior life and the coastal landscape.
Sectional variation reinforces these programmatic distinctions. The compressed curvature of the vaulted ground floor contrasts with the rhythm of timber beams above, while the open sky of the ტერrace concludes the vertical sequence with an atmosphere of release. Cross-ventilation through the patio and façade openings moderates humidity and heat, creating a comfortable indoor environment that adapts to seasonal shifts.
Material Dialogue: Vernacular Substance and Contemporary Precision
Material decisions foreground continuity with local construction practices. The original terracotta tiles were recovered and reinstalled, preserving traces of use and irregularities. Stone walls were consolidated and left perceptible, allowing their mass and texture to define the interior character.
Lime-based finishes were applied to both interior and exterior surfaces, enabling the walls to breathe within the humid coastal climate. The soft reflectivity of white limewash amplifies natural light and reinforces the spatial clarity introduced by the new openings. In bathrooms, lime mortar continues this mineral palette, avoiding impermeable layers that would disrupt the building’s hygrothermal balance.
Natural iroko wood is employed for custom joinery, storage, and selected fittings. Its density and warm tonality establish a measured contrast with the whitened walls and ceramic surfaces. Wrought iron balconies and carefully restored exterior shutters complete the composition, creating a restrained dialogue between vernacular substance and contemporary precision without resorting to pastiche.
About Bea Portabella Arquitectura
Bea Portabella Arquitectura is a Barcelona-based practice founded in 2007 by architect Beatriz Portabella Villalonga. Established in Barcelona, the studio focuses on new builds, renovations, and interior design, working with a strong sensitivity to context, materiality, and light. Rooted in a deep understanding of Mediterranean vernacular traditions, the practice seeks to preserve the character and memory of existing structures while adapting them to contemporary forms of living through precise, thoughtful interventions.
Credits and Additional Notes
- Client: Private owner
- Construction company: Construcciones Llach (Main contractor)
- Other contributors: Photography by David Zarzoso
