Renovating to Live: Technical Precision and Human Warmth in a 79.5 m² Apartment
Located in a building with more than three decades of history, this 79.5 m² apartment became the canvas for a complete transformation that combined technical intelligence, aesthetic sensitivity, and a profound respect for contemporary living. The intervention aimed to meet the needs of a young couple without children, seeking to integrate, within a compact space, an open social area, kitchen, laundry room, master bedroom, guest room, two bathrooms, and a workspace.
The strength of the proposal lay in its ability to adapt a new architectural program to a pre-existing setting, maximizing the potential of the original structure. The team began with a thorough analysis of the building: structural review, network diagnostics, and load studies, determining which walls could be demolished to open sightlines and improve circulation, and which required reinforcement or relocation of services.
The complex construction process combined three building systems—Superboard walls, prefabricated concrete elements, and traditional masonry—demanding meticulous coordination of details throughout the entire project. Every joint, junction, and finish was carefully designed to achieve a flawless and dynamic result, incorporating LEED-certified materials to ensure sustainability and quality.
The interior design embraced simplicity and functionality, adapting to the clients’ existing furniture, which was reused and reinterpreted to harmoniously integrate into the new spatial arrangement. A fireplace, custom-designed to fit the apartment’s context, added a gesture of comfort that enhances habitability during colder months.
A key factor in the project’s success was the agility in decision-making: base plans were complemented by on-site sketches that resolved details during construction, allowing for continuous adaptation without sacrificing precision or quality.
This project demonstrates that good architecture does not depend on large budgets or generous square footage. It reveals itself in the accuracy of processes, the coherence of details, and the ability to create spaces that are not only inhabited but also lived and remembered. Here, every square meter was conceived, refined, and endowed with a unique character, reflecting the dialogue between the owners’ dreams and the vision of the architectural team.
