In Spain, an Edgy Renovation Uses Off-the-Shelf Materials in Surprising Ways

For a family that is always on the go, the concept of home can take on a transient quality. That’s the case for journalists and video producers Kirsten Dirksen and Nicolás Boullosa who have explored countless places around the globe while producing content on sustainability for their YouTube channel, Faircompanies. It’s dream existence for many, but one with few constants to rely on. 

"We don’t have a permanent sense of home," admits Kirsten.

"In our case, home is more about a sense of family. You feel connected to some places for one reason or another," agrees Nico.

These days, the couple and their three children, Inés (16), Ximena (14), and Nicky (11), are based between California, where Kirsten grew up, and Nico’s home region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain.

Years ago, on a hike, they stumbled upon the town of Castellet with its 10th-century castle overlooking the Foix reservoir in the rural Penedès region, and fell instantly in love. The area, just south of Barcelona, is known for its sparkling wine production and spectacular setting between the mountains and the Mediterranean.

"We liked the idea of a little town with a castle on top, and the fact that my family was nearby," says Nico.

In 2018, they purchased a property on a street corner in Castellet overlooking the reservoir, and they hired Barcelona-based Aixopluc Architects to manage the renovation.