Lightning Strikes Twice: Relámpago House by H3o Architects.

Once upon a time, a lightning storm struck in the Sant Just village along the outskirts of Barcelona. Many took cover in their homes. One family hid under the table at their Can Cardona farmhouse as the storm growled. Lightning entered through their chimney, making its way down into the belly of the home; they watched as it bounced around like a firecracker, putting on a light show that sparked vibrant colours across their traditional abode. Very few people know about the legend of the lightning that struck Can Cardona that night. However, through h3o Architects’ renovation of what was left of the 55 square meter barn, this story is immortalised.

At the heart of Relámpago House today, three lightning-struck walls burst outwards, defining dynamic pockets of space. “We used the incredible story of the lightning that struck the house years ago as a starting point for the design”, said Adrià Orriols, Joan Gener and Miquel Ruiz of the emerging Barcelona-based architecture practice. And with their client being a historian, it only seemed fitting to build the home around its key historic event.

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A vibrant contemporary dwelling stands today, bursting with colour and striking angular geometries. “The zig-zagging shapes define the different areas of the house”, explain h3o Architects. These “flow and blend with each other, creating unique visual and spatial effects” which architects harnessed to create some very intriguing features across the home.

Triangular bookshelves are nested between cranked walls. Ledges are built into unexpected places. Jagged joinery units begin to resemble uncut gemstones, lodged into corners. h3o Architects explain how “combining an outbreaking architecture with a highly distinctive concept” allowed them to create a “home that is brimming with identity”. Through “merging geometries, materials and colours”, h3o note that they were able to “give life to a stimulating interior where fluidity between spaces stands as a protagonist”.

The striking colour palette was also deliberately curated by h3o Architects to “strategically highlight shapes and volumes in different rooms to create a surprising atmosphere”, they say. For their highly creative and artistic client, the stimulating colour palette was a tool used to “awaken a different outlook towards his daily life indoors”, share h3o Architects.

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As we all know, in thunderstorms, light travels much faster than sound. Leaving no element unconsidered, the light fittings throughout Relámpago House all reference the natural disaster as well. In the kitchen, two island benches zig-zag through the otherwise open space. A jagged suspended light fitting hangs above.

For h3o Architects, this project “transcends the conventional notion of home, and celebrates” Can Cardona’s striking history (no pun intended)! Relámpago House is a home where lightning seems to have struck twice—once many years back during the historic thunderstorms, and once more through h3o Architects’ meaningful and dynamic renovation of the Can Cardona farmhouse.

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[Images courtesy of h30 Architects. Photography by Jose Hevia.]