Energy-Autonomous Colivings: The New Urban Renaissance Begins in Barcelona

What if the future of housing wasn’t about building more, but about living better?

In Castelldefels, just 20 minutes south of Barcelona, a former industrial bakery has been transformed into one of the world’s first energy-autonomous colivings — right in the heart of Vista Alegre, a neighborhood with a rich and often overlooked history of self-built resilience.

Welcome to Green Living Coliving Barcelona: a space where architecture, community and sustainability converge to offer a new way of living — conscious, flexible and deeply rooted in place.

A neighborhood built by its people

Vista Alegre is not just another dot on the map. Like Carmel, Can Caralleu or Torre Baró, it emerged in the 1950s and 60s when waves of migrant families came to the Barcelona region in search of opportunity. With no access to formal housing, they built their own homes — brick by brick, family by family — creating neighborhoods full of life, collaboration and cultural heritage.

These stories are rarely told in glossy brochures, but they form the backbone of the city. And now, Vista Alegre becomes a beacon once again — this time for a new urban vision.

A coliving with zero energy dependence

Green Living isn’t just another beautiful building. It’s a prototype for the next generation of housing — designed from the ground up to operate without relying on external energy sources.

How?

• High-performance insulation and façade systems (SATE)

• Climate control through aerothermal systems and temperature recovery

• Automated, sensor-based domotics for light, ventilation and energy use

• Optimized water systems and cross ventilation

The result is a living space that doesn’t just reduce its footprint — it actively contributes to a sustainable urban future.

Community-first, by design

This is more than a place to sleep. With 12 private rooms, coworking zones, shared kitchens, terraces, storage and social areas, Green Living is designed to host medium- and long-term stays for digital nomads, remote workers, creatives and purpose-driven professionals.

But what makes it different is not just the tech. It’s the intent:
To build a home that inspires collaboration, supports wellbeing, and reactivates the social fabric of the neighborhood.

Regeneration begins at the roots

Too often, urban transformation means erasure. But Green Living believes in regeneration without displacement — in building with, not over, what already exists.

This project respects the spirit of Vista Alegre. It doesn’t try to erase its past, but rather continue its story — with new tools, clean energy, and shared purpose.

A new way of living is already here

The opening of Green Living Coliving Barcelona marks a small but significant milestone: a real-world demonstration that we can live better, together, and more sustainably.

And we’re just getting started.

Curious to learn more or stay with us? [Explore our Coliving spaces]