The historic yet distinctly lively neighbourhood of El Born in Barcelona shares much in common with Paris’s Montmartre. Where there was once fairs and jousting tournaments—the name Born is a reference to tournaments—this part of the historic centre is now an area where bohemians gather day and night. In addition to its vibrant nightlife, El Born has a lot to offer culturally, including the Picasso and Moco museums. In short, it’s a cheerful mix of cafés, tapas bars, and culture.
A Small Historic Space With A Modern Look
The founders of CAAL Architectes, Rafael Allende and Carolina Castilla, were asked to convert a historic flat just steps away from the neighbourhood’s famous Santa María del Mar church. “Although it was a landmarked property, the apartment had great potential,” Allende and Castilla explain. The 1936 building’s prevailing architectural style was based on traditional materials such as stone and wood, and even its old ceramic vaults were still visible. The layout had clear definitions, “with high, rectangular rooms that were well lit and easy to divide.” With the exception of removing the mezzanine, the project didn’t require any substantial restructuring of the space. And despite its age, the apartment’s renovation didn’t scrimp on modern comforts. The air conditioning, electrical, and heating systems were revamped, while the soundproofing of the windows and doors were upgraded as well—an absolutely necessary measure, according to the architects, in a busy area like El Born.
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The Architects’ Motto? Go High!
The initial challenge was to make optimal use of the neatly structured 527 square feet without sacrificing any of the home’s open and spacious feeling. “With the limited area, the main goal was to make the most of its height,” the duo says. And, at five metres tall, the height was decidedly impressive. All the storage, cupboards, and shelves were thus refit into the apartment’s middle wall at a height that matched that of the windows. “But not too high which would make reaching the upper parts much more difficult.”
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Natural Materials Provide A Sense Of Balance
The walls and floors were given a facelift as well with the use of materials such as wood, micro-cement, and clay, which complement the historical elements of the apartment. With its forest-green ceramic tiles, the bathroom stands out as a dramatic exception. The decision to tile it allowed the bathroom to convey a more intimate, almost sheltering sense of space, in contrast to the bright living area. The bathroom also shows off another surprising detail. The duo went vertical here too and positioned the shower head at not the usual 20 centimetres or so above one’s head, but instead at a height of four metres. “It creates a wonderful, pleasant feeling that comes close to a gentle rain shower,” explains CAAL Architectes. In this Barcelona apartment, the pair of architects have once again demonstrated that stunning results can be achieved with small and subtle changes.
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