built architecture balances existing + new in apartment renovation in barcelona

built architecture balances existing + new in apartment renovation in barcelona 
all images © eugeni pons

when faced with the renovation of the ‘AB house’ apartment in barcelona, built architecture faced the challenge of finding a balance between the existing location and their new ideas that wanted to recover and revalue the features of the original site while getting rid of any element that bloated the vision and distressed the perception of space. the final result needed to be, in their opinion, wide and clear. to accomplish this, the first step was diffusing the central corridor in order to merge the rooms surrounding it. to do so,  a new piece of furniture was created allowing it to flow along the length of the apartment. this element also serves as a divider between the social and private zones by creating three different areas as well as lots of storage and organization. 

the design recovers and uplifts both the original modernist mosaics and the high ceilings with gypsum mouldings

the public area is located on one of the sides and consists of a sitting room, dining room and library, all of which are connected to the main facade of the building, enjoying the best views and orientation. service spaces cleverly located in the apartment include a kitchen, dining bar, guest room and auxiliary bathroom equipped with a convenient double access. the main suite is generated by four spaces located in a spiral circulation from its entrance. it starts in a dressing room and flows into an office in the veranda, a king bed attached to a new headboard and ends up in the natural lighted bathroom, thanks to the generous interior patio aperture.

the perimeter of the space is completely free by concentrating the intervention in one single and continuous volume

the design recovers and uplifts both the original modernist mosaics and the high ceilings with gypsum mouldings. the project frames all recovered mosaic with a natural oak tree parquet which resemble colourful carpets mounted on the pavement. the central furniture element, built with the same natural oak tree, rises from those frames as a great sculpture that contracts and fractures itself in order to fly over the mosaic and to achieve precise alignments with the parquet. all design solutions aim to activate the space contiguous to this central piece, furnishing it with functionalities and activity. 

a subtle black metal plate crowns the oak volume and generates a new distribution of spaces

View of the versatile room from the kitchen. The furniture covers the different spaces providing them the specific needs 

the versatility of the house allows the user to adapt the distribution of the flat in response to lifestyle requirement

the furniture emerges from the oak wooden pavement 

the furniture welcomes the visitor 

dress room, master bedroom and bathroom are related by the new furniture design

the different elements of the main bathroom are custom made

apartment layout with flooring details

central furniture scheme

project info:

studio: built architecture
architects: diana carbonell, jaime batlle, victor alavedra
team: ignacio arizu, jennifer álvarez
structural engineer: juan pablo rodríguez. avac arquitectes consultors
construction company: built architecture
images
photos: eugeni pons

carpentry: fernando poveda

ironwork: dani ramírez + carles torras
illumination: jordi calero (ca2l)
mep: joan velasco + carles vivó
marbles: jaime rodón
mosaics: augusto baquedano
construction works: catalin pana
parquet: jaume nadal
painting: jairo sánchez
glasswork: josé durán

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: juliana neira | designboom