The premises are located in La Latina, one of Madrid's oldest and most distinctive neighborhoods. Of medieval origin, the area preserves an irregular urban layout, with narrow streets, open squares and a vibrant cultural and commercial life. Every Sunday, the neighborhood is transformed by El Rastro, the city's most iconic flea market, where antiques, design pieces and unique objects coexist. This visual and material richness of the surroundings inspired the project's approach.
Before the intervention, the premises had a fragmented layout with two floor levels, which hindered spatial continuity and its use as an office and point of sale. The objective was clear: to unify the whole, optimize functionality and give it an architectural language that would convey the value of the products that Alvico represents.
To achieve this, partition walls were removed and the entrance level difference was unified, which allowed the recovery of a continuous reading of the space and enhanced the sensation of spaciousness. The intervention also included the regularization of the ceiling plane to achieve the greatest free height and improve the overall proportions of the volume.
The premises are organized into two main areas, separated by a natural Travertine frame that functions as a visual threshold and transitional element. This gesture provides texture and nobility, and articulates the passage between the meeting and exhibition area, and the work room.
The unifying flooring is a dark oak parquet with long planks laid with hidden joints, which runs throughout the space naturally and continuously. In the entrance area, slightly elevated, a textured jute carpet is incorporated that provides warmth, texture and acoustic absorption. This gesture, together with the linen sheers on the windows, introduces a more domestic and sensory dimension to the work environment.
The walls and ceilings have been covered with lime paint in a beige tone, which provides a soft, mineral and luminous texture. This solution not only visually unifies the space, but responds to natural light with subtle nuances, reinforcing the calm of the whole.
The space is structured around two large-format central tables, custom-designed, with dark oak tops and sculptural stainless steel legs. These versatile pieces function both as a work surface and for meetings or product display.
At the back of the premises, a light oak storage unit was custom-designed, alternating tall modules at the ends and low ones in the center, to visually lighten its presence and optimize storage. A hidden door leads to the warehouse, perfectly integrated into the overall design.
The extension of the windows to floor and ceiling improves the relationship with the exterior, enhances the entry of natural light and turns the facades into authentic shop windows, allowing passers-by to perceive the interior of the premises and the products it offers.
In short, this intervention transforms a compartmentalized premises of low initial value into a representative and versatile space, where attention to noble materials and proportions builds a warm, serene and professional atmosphere. The result is an environment that elevates the work and sales experience through design.
