Located in the centre of Valencia, a few metres from the Puerta del Mar, Banquito Bakery is conceived as an exercise in synthesis and material honesty. With a total surface area of just 26m2, the project is based on a clear premise: to function as a mirror, a perfect symmetry that articulates the dialogue between the bakery and the takeaway area.

The space is constructed with respect for the memory of the place. Far from hiding the traces of the past, the intervention decides to highlight them: the original black floor is preserved to anchor the project to the earth, while one of the walls, splattered with ink stains from the old copy shop that occupied the premises, remains intact as a canvas that tells the story of the place.

The materiality of the project defines its functionality through a marked duality. On the one hand, stainless steel covers the work areas, providing the necessary hygiene and a precise, industrial aesthetic. In contrast to the coldness of the metal, plywood introduces warmth to the waiting areas. Two benches and three small tables are strategically placed, giving meaning to the name of the premises and offering a friendly and peaceful refuge amid the hustle and bustle.

Colour takes centre stage in the ironwork of the doors, stained a pastel yellow that evokes the butter used in the bakery's sweets. These doors act as a visual filter: transparent glass to invite visitors into the sales area and ribbed glass to subtly veil the magic inside.

A curved element rises in the room, breaking the orthogonality and energising the space to comply with bathroom regulations. However, the ritual of hand washing is externalised, understood as part of the experience of eating with your hands. Here, the detail comes to life: on a steel plate rests a ceramic sink made by the Vernís studio and designed, curiously, based on a recipe for Swedish buns; a touch of grace that brings warmth and artisanal character.

The ceiling completes the atmosphere with a change in texture—from a thin layer to stippling—which visually emphasises the 2.95-metre height, making the scale more human. By opening its doors completely, Banquito Bakery dematerialises the boundary between inside and outside, becoming a place that not only sells bread but also generates neighbourhood life.