Palau Apartment

Barcelona, Spain
2022

CATEGORY

RESIDENTIAL / COMPLETE RENOVATION

SURFACE

80m2 + 18m2 mezzanine

STATUS

COMPLETED

PHOTOGRAPHY

ROBERTO RUIZ

The apartment is located on the third floor of an ancient building nearby the famous Palau de la Música in the heart of Barcelona. The client is a young Italian fashion designer that fixed his residence in the Catalan capital.

Visiting the property, the architects were immediately struck by the open space proportions and five-meter high ceilings. Accordingly, the architects proposed a more daring refurbishment then the one initially envisioned by the client that was focused only on a new bathroom and closet.

The project highlights and embodies several charming existing elements such as the massive wooden beams and wooden floors, the mezzanine overlooking the living area, and the two-floor metal windows. A solution was needed to rationalize a very compact bathroom and substitute stairs to the second level due to structural problems.

The property is extremely quiet, overlooking silent courtyards of the old part of Barcelona.

The client looked for an equally calm, neutral palette of materials and colors and preserve and enhance the property’s atmosphere and to “keep it simple and warm”.

Floor plan of an apartment showing a living area, kitchen, dining space, and outdoor patio with furniture and plants.
Floor plan of a small apartment with a bedroom, bathroom, living area, and outdoor garden, oriented with north at the right side.

The designs solutions are informed by the client’s desire to keep the appeal of original elements and weathered materials.

The architects decided to face the project through a ‘wabi-sabi’ approach that could easily incorporate original features and imperfections, while retaining the charm of the apartment.

Shapes are simple, bold, with recurring basic forms: squares, circles, spheres - while sturdy solid surfaces were used to combine the monumental language of existing elements.

The architects immediately found a resemblance between the apartment’s spaces and the architecture of Luis Barragán, always a reference for the firm. The work of Carlo Scarpa is also suggested in the sculptural stairs and furniture piece, central to the space, that defines the whole project.

 

Floor plans of two sections of a building, labeled 'Sec. AA' and 'Sec. BB'. The plans show interior layouts with stairs, furniture, and decorative elements such as a rug and plants.
A narrow hallway with wooden flooring, one plain wall and one textured wall, a built-in white shelving unit, and a window at the end of the corridor.
Bright, minimalist kitchen with white cabinets, wooden floors, a window above the sink, a built-in oven, a gas stove, and a white table with two stools and a plant centerpiece.
Kitchen with white cabinets, gas stove, oven, wooden floors, framed windows, and minimal decor like a cutting board and salt and pepper shakers.
Minimalist white kitchen with a window over a double sink, stove, oven, and white cabinetry, situated on a wooden floor.
Minimalist interior with white walls, a built-in bench, and a round table with a single cylindrical leg on wooden flooring.

The concept is built around the idea of a multifunction block, a layered central element, around which the space and activities develop. The layout has been kept completely open, loft-like.

 The existing entrance corridor is narrow, but sided by a bookshelf and a featuring a rough wall displaying layers of previous ancient stucco. It , leads to the kitchen space, wide and bright with square windows overlooking planted courtyards.

 The kitchen is simple and white, with porcelain countertops and backsplash, globe lamps and a bespoke brushed steel kitchen hood above the hobs.

 The dining area grows out of the central stair element. On the kitchen side the block contains niches, and openings and  shelves for to contain tableware and a pantry. A massive, arch-shaped slab of travertine marble protrudes out of the block to create a one-legged dining table and bench.

A little square niche hides a spotlight, a disguised sconce.

 

Minimalist kitchen with two white bowls filled with cherries, a window with wooden trim, and two round white wall lights.
Minimalist kitchen with white cabinets, wooden floor, and a dining counter with two stools and a potted plant.
Kitchen counter with stainless steel double sink, soap dispensers, cutting board, and window overlooking a small outdoor terrace with potted plants and neighboring buildings.
Minimalist kitchen with light wood flooring, white walls, and built-in cabinets, with a rounded corner seating area and a small table with green foliage.
A green leafy plant in a wooden pot, a stack of silver plates, a small white dish, and a textured beige surface.
Minimalist kitchen with white walls, a light wood dining table, two gray stools, open wooden shelves, green plants, and white dishes.
A modern minimalist kitchen with white and natural wood shelves, green plants, white dishes, and a paper lantern hanging from the ceiling.
Interior of a modern minimalist home with wooden flooring, white kitchen cabinets, a small dining area, and a staircase leading to an upper level with a wooden balcony.
Modern living room with white sofa, glass coffee table, wooden stairs, plants, and minimalist decor.
Minimalist living room with white sectional sofa, glass coffee table with terracotta bases, wooden flooring, wall plants, hanging paper lantern, and loft area with wooden railing and beams.

Once passed the multi-purpose stairs-block, a double height space opens up, the living area.

This is a very airy space with its five meters height and monumental, ancient timber beams.

The stairs plinth forms a made to measure masonry sofa: the L-shaped seat, with bespoke cushions in a tactile bouclé fabric.

Its backrest doubles as a planter to be filled with houseplants crowning the simple sitting. Hovering above the area is the sphere of a delicate paper lamp, a Japanese reference.

A big, square patch of ancient stucco was preserved atop of the living seat, adding layers of history to the space.

Living room with white sofa, glass coffee table, wooden floors, and exposed wooden ceiling beams.
Living room with beige sofa, glass-top coffee table, green plants background, white wall, paper lantern ceiling light, wooden flooring.
Beige sofa with green potted plants behind it against a white wall, wooden floor visible.
Indoor houseplant with large green leaves behind a beige couch.

The living area has a double height corner window, at whose feet a round plinth has been built, covered in micro cement, generating a special corner in the natural light of the window, with views on the courtyard, perfect for reading.

Opposite this window, a solid, wide, 3,5m height bookshelf in neutral colors will slowly host the client’s collection of objects and books.

Living room with a white multi-compartment bookshelf filled with various decorative items, a small wooden stool, a tan leather chair with a black and beige patterned cloth, and a tall potted plant next to a beige wall and wooden floor.
Minimalist living room with a large white bookshelf, a potted plant, a brown chair with a blanket, a small wooden stool, and a curved window ledge with decorative objects. Light wood floors and wooden ceiling beams.
Corner of a room with a potted plant, wooden flooring, a large window, a radiator, a small stool, and decorative objects on a semi-circular shelf by the window.
White bookshelf with decorative objects, books, framed photos, and small art pieces, situated on a wooden floor.
A minimalist interior corner with a large potted plant, a small wooden stool with an open book, a curved concrete ledge with a shiny silver sphere, a bowl with stones, and a folded black and gold-patterned textile. Natural light streams through a tall window, illuminating the wooden floor and beige walls.

“I contacted the firm with the idea of refurbishing the bathroom and replace the closet. The studio made instead a game-changing proposal with the multi purpose staircase piece that gave a new heart to the property, solving many problems with one gesture. The result surpasses all of my expectations.

I love it.”

— Nicola Campese

Interior view of a modern living space with a white staircase, a beige sofa, green plants, a large abstract wall art, and wooden accents.
Indoor scene with tall green cactus plant growing in a plant hole near a white wall, with light wooden stairs on the left and greenery at the bottom right.
Interior of a modern, minimalist living space featuring white stairs, built-in white seating with books and plants, wooden floors, and a loft with wooden cabinets and beams.

The stairs are conceived as layers of materials, connecting the two levels, getting lighter as they go up.

The initially solid plinth is surmounted by steps as a wooden box. Then stairs bend into a suspended micro- cement landing with a half-circle shape cut out that allows a taller plant to grow through it.

The last few steps, in light color wood are floating atop, doubling as light source above the dining table, thanks to a trim of LED lights.

Interior view of a modern staircase with wooden steps and a potted cactus plant nearby, in a minimalist room with neutral tones and natural light.
Modern staircase with wooden steps and integrated lighting, alongside a tall green cactus plant, in a minimalist interior.

On the second level, the bedroom area is open onto the living.

A wicker panel functions as both headboard and balustrade.

Around it runs a ledge, suspended in the double height space - a quote from Halston House, the 1960s Paul Rudolph’s project in New York. This forms two bedside tables at the extremes, as well as a display shelf for special pieces, overlooking the double height space of the living area.

The closet dominates this space, as a warm monolith, clad in woven wicker screens.

One of these screens hides the door to a compact bathroom, while another conceals a washbasin in a mirrored box, placed within the bedroom to save space un the restroom.

A third wicker panel embodies the stairs handrail, through a diagonal cut.

A high-angle view of a wooden staircase leading down to a hardwood floor with a glass-top coffee table, decorative bowls, and books.
A cozy bedroom with a bed, white bedding, and rustic wooden beams on the ceiling, featuring a minimalist design with light-colored walls and two windows.
Modern bathroom with a wall-mounted mirror, vessel sink, and wooden cabinetry. The ceiling features exposed wooden beams and a white paneled surface.
Empty shower with beige tiles, a gray towel hanging on the wall, and three bottles of toiletries on a small stone platform.
Interior illustration of a modern living room with a staircase, a curved sectional sofa, large green houseplants, a window, and a hanging paper lantern.
A cozy bedroom with a bed, art pieces, and decorative items on a wooden divider, exposed wooden ceiling beams, and small windows.
A bedroom nightstand with decorative objects, a black sculpture, rings, and a candle, next to a bed and a bookshelf in the background.
Modern bathroom with a large mirror, a white vessel sink, a wooden vanity, and a rustic ceiling with exposed wooden beams.
Shower area with beige tiled walls, rain showerhead, hand-held shower, and small shelf with candles and bottles.
A bedroom corner with a wooden headboard, beige bed linens, a floating wooden nightstand decorated with a plan, a small sculpture, and decorative bowls, and a white paper lantern lamp hanging from a black cord, all against a white wall with visible wooden ceiling beams.
A cozy bedroom featuring a bed with a cream comforter, wooden beams on the ceiling, a bamboo wardrobe, and a small side table with decor and plants.
Bedroom with wooden beams on the ceiling and a large built-in wardrobe with a rattan finish.

The bathroom is covered in vertical ceramic tiles with an elegant nacre finish, adding a new texture to the matt-to-shiny palette of neutral shades of the apartment.

The architects played with different finishes - from glossy to rough - the otherwise neutral palette.
Materials have been selected with, tactile, texture-based criteria: white micro-cement for the stairs and seats block, light natural wood, woven wicker panels, etc. Enamelled painted walls reflecting the light contrast with matt micro-cement, rough travertine slab and porcelain kitchen tops.
A textured bouclé fabric was picked for the seat cushions. Brushed steel details complete the palette, like in the bespoke cooker hood.

The simple furnishings (that will be expanded by the owner) include a low glass table with terracotta sphere feet as well as vintage pieces like the steel three legged stools of the dining table, and two leather seats.

Bathroom countertop with bottles of fragrance, Tom Ford OMBRE LEATHER, Prada, and black bottle, alongside a yellow toothbrush, with a white sink and a mirror.
Illustration of a modern living room with plants, a beige rug, and a speckled brown couch, with a staircase leading to an upper level.

If you would like to have more information about this project or to discuss a collaboration with us, get in touch at info@colomboarchitecture.com