Minimalist apartment interior with wooden shelving and white ceiling beams, leading to a balcony.

Interior view of a minimalist apartment featuring a wooden shelving unit and a white ceiling with exposed beams. A set of double doors with glass panels leads to a balcony.

Story

Reimagining Spatial Continuity with Innovative Furniture Elements In the heart of Barcelona's Sant Antoni neighborhood, h3o architects have redefined a once compartmentalized apartment into a seamless spatial experience. Originally constructed in 1868 by Pau Martorell, the Xurigué building exemplifies the transitional architectural styles of the Eixample district. The renovation embraces the building's historic character while introducing a modern, fluid layout. The design strategy involved stripping the space to its core, creating a blank canvas accentuated by three luminous courtyards and a central bearing wall. This approach amplifies the sense of openness and light, allowing the apartment's 80 square meters to breathe. Central to the renovation are the (in)movables—furniture elements that blur the line between object and architecture. These pieces, crafted from materials like pink marble, stained cedar, and stainless steel, introduce both functionality and aesthetic vibrancy. They define living areas without disrupting the spatial flow, integrating essential domestic functions such as a kitchen, sofa, and shower.

Design Highlights

Transformation of a historic apartment into a continuous living space. Use of (in)movables to define and differentiate areas without walls. Integration of natural light through existing courtyards. Material palette combining cream, pink marble, and wood.

Key Facts

Feature Detail
Location Sant Antoni, Barcelona, Spain
Architect h3o
Completion Year 2019
Area 80 square meters
Constructor Forma Bcn

Technical Summary

Finishes

  • Wall Finish: White walls with some sections featuring pink tiles.
  • Countertop Finish: Marble countertop and backsplash in the kitchen.

Materials

  • Wood — Used in shelving units, partitions, and cabinetry.
  • Marble — Used for countertops and backsplashes.
  • Tiles — Used on walls in certain sections.
  • Stainless Steel — Used in bathroom sinks.

Construction / Systems

  • Structural System: Originally conditioned by two deep bays crossed by a bearing wall.

Products

  • Lighting — Wicker Pendant Light (Used in dining areas for ambient lighting.)

Palette / Lighting

  • Colors: white, pink, cream, reddish-brown
  • Lighting: Natural light from large windows and ambient lighting from pendant lights.

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