Raul Sanchez Architects stripped a 19th century property in a ruinous state, located in Barcelona’s Borne district, down to its facades, dividing walls and roof. What was left is a 15 meter high void revealing a composition of all kinds of bricks and stones arranged without apparent order or composition. Inside this void, Raul Sanchez Architects inserted a modern interior.
Three new floors are organized by a spiral staircase that runs the entire height of the property without touching its walls at any time. The stairs are painted white in search of a certain material abstraction. White lacquered wood ceilings further enhance this.
The floors are supported by beams that run between the dividing walls. A sheet of glass creates a separation between the floors and the facade to emphasize the contrast between old and new.
From bottom to top, the building houses a kitchen and dining room, living room, bathroom and dressing room, bedroom, and a rooftop terrace.
In contrast to the rough walls of exposed brick, the new elements have a refined materiality. Warm oak wood floors are combined with white microcement, hydraulic mosaic and brass details.
The installations are bundled in 7 stainless steel cylinders that run the entire height. 6 are used to conduct the electrical, ventilation, plumbing, extraction, sanitation, air conditioning and telecommunications installations, leaving one empty for future needs.
With the same future proofing flexibility in mind Raul Sanchez Architects, with the exception of the kitchen and bathroom fittings, kept all floors unoccupied to allow for easy adaptation over time.
A skylight floods the interiors with natural light running down the stairwell until the lowest levels. The glass floor in front of the windows gives an impression of the full height of the facade.
The main facade was rehabilitated through strict dictates of the heritage commission. At the entrance, rules allowed for some imagination. A three-dimensional design of rhombuses and triangles finished with 3 types of aluminum mark the entry to the building.
