Minou-On Apartment Reform Transforms Old Duplex into Integrated Space in Tehran

The design team provided the description of this work, which consists of the renovation of an apartment located in the Ensanche district of Bilbao. This property had a typical arrangement of residences from the 1970s, characterized by being quite divided and having small rooms.

With a built area of 80 m², the original apartment layout comprised several bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, two bathrooms, and an extensive terrace running along the entire main facade.

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The project was presented with the citation: "Apartment renovation in Ensanche de Bilbao / BABELstudio" [Housing renovation in the Enchanche of Bilbao / BABELstudio] on November 07, 2026, accessed on November 08, 2026, according to ArchDaily in Portuguese.

The initial concept of renovating a house situated between two buildings, confined between a narrow street and an alley, underwent a drastic change after the acquisition of the adjacent land. This plot had considerable dimensions, measuring 25 meters in length by only 2.5 meters in width.

This new area allowed for the creation of large openings intended for a central patio. Consequently, the project evolved to explore various solutions for introducing natural light into the residences. Among the proposed solutions were sliding doors on the exterior facade, pivoting doors both vertical and horizontal, arched balconies, round skylights, and jalousies.

In the Heights district, located in Jersey City, the project named Backyard Townhouses, conceived by the firm Behin Ha, is utilizing a previously blocked demolition area to promote an increase in urban density.

The studio, led by Behrang Behin and Ann Ha, developed this project with the goal of preserving the street's historical heritage while modernizing the structure. The plan includes the restoration of a residence approximately 150 years old.

Additionally, the project incorporates three contemporary townhouses in the backyard of the lot. This addition allows for nearly tripling the lot's housing capacity without causing any alteration to the surrounding historical landscape.