octave petit and marc mazeres prioritize views for barcelona penthouse refurb

freelance architects, octave petit and marc mazeres, have renovated a penthouse apartment in barcelona. the refurbishment focuses on generating more space by opening up the pitched roof and establishing a strong connection to the city, the mediterranean sea, and the hill of montjuïc.

living room by day, view over montjuïc

images by milena villalba

prior to the renovation, the apartment’s circulation followed the vertical core of the building, through a space that expanded and contracted according to the exterior boundaries of isolated rooms. different functions of the apartment were compartmentalized and a connection to the outdoors could only be found through small windows or narrow doors, which were elevated from the floor to reach the higher level of the terraces.

dining room at lunchtime featuring the ‘eclipse’ lamp specifically designed for the project by léa ferraton+albert renau and handcrafted in a neighborhood ceramic workshop

this renovation by octave petit and marc mazeres consists of strengthening the relationship between montjuïc, the sea, and the city and bringing it inside the apartment by creating a strip that connects both terraces. the rest of the house branches off from this new central space and the various functions are organized according to their use. spaces that are used more in the daytime stay facing south, and spaces with a dominant nighttime usage stay facing north, while a series of new openings amplify the relationship between the interiors and the surroundings.

living and dining room, views and reflections towards montjuïc and the city

the new height of the apartment is achieved by rehabilitating the existing pitched roof and is regulated by different platforms according to the usage of each area. three storage spaces cover the entrance, pantry, and fireplace. the kitchen (except for the worktop and bar strips), as well as the dining room, are kept full height. the office hangs in the center of the main central space. its structure and visual filter of wooden slats offer a roof for the living room. on top of the master bedroom, a new slab offers the possibility to host guests in the attic.

living room by day, view over the skyline

outside, new pergolas offer protection from the hot sun during the summer while letting natural light pass through in winter. they suggest different ways of enjoying the terrace. the dining room and fireplace, on top of a concrete platform, are now on the same level as the new outdoor wooden deck and the sliding pocket window blurs the boundary between inside and outside, creating the feeling of outdoor living in the city.

kitchen with a view of the mediterranean sea

living room by night

fireplace at dusk

view of the kitchen from the terrace at dusk

project info:

name: refurbishment of a penthouse in montjuïc, barcelona

location: barcelona, spain

architects: octave petit and marc mazeres

construction company: emilio josé rubio garcia (velkyprom construcciones y servicios)

structure engineer: miguel angel pérez

‘eclipse’ lamp design: léa ferraton+albert renau

landscape design: studio topic

exterior wood finishings: moskito parquets

kitchen finishings: cubro design

photography: milena villalba