BCN012- GRÀCIA

Elba Danel

BCN012 - GRÀCIA

• Architects

1. Introduction

From the very beginning, Passeig de Gràcia was conceived as Barcelona's great street. It is one of the most elegant avenues and one of the most famous architectural landmarks of the city, where the Catalan modernist movement shines in its full glory. The refurbishment of this flat takes place in a building dated 1947, on a mezzanine floor. This type of location is very peculiar: if on the one hand it represents luxury and elegance, where the bourgeoisie used to live in order to have a better view of what was going on in the street, on the other hand, it tends to have a very specific peculiarity in that it does not usually bring much natural light into the interior. The intention of this project is to create a bridge between life in the street and life in the flat, always preserving control over intimacy and privacy.

However, the challenge presented in this project is to emphasize the inner courtyard as the central axis. What might appear to be the most negative aspect of the dwelling becomes the key to the project. The main vegetation and the carefully designed lighting are key to giving the programme the atmosphere it requires.

2. Location

The flat to be refurbished is located in one of Barcelona's Eixample district, a luxury showcase for the great bourgeois and aristocratic families of Barcelona in the 20th century. Paseo de Gràcia has always been at the service of the most demanding clients, becoming a first class architectural, gastronomic, hotel and commercial heritage.

3. Allocation

The flat to be refurbished has a useful surface area of 194,80m2. It is proposed to maintain the original layout of the house with the functional day/night scheme, creating a single large continuous space that brings together the social rooms of the house, thus having the kitchen and dining room in a single space. The current layout of the dwelling is integrated by the entrance hall from which there is direct access to the interior courtyard. The aim of the project has been to emphasize this space: integrating the lighting element with the vegetation element, giving an organic and transparent tone that transmits a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere.

Entering from the entrance hall, on the right-hand side are the day functions. A dining room and a large kitchen live together in a single space, separated by a piece of furniture with a fireplace at the base, which creates a warm and cozy feeling; above it, a TV set characterized by a horizontal movement that allows a 180-degree rotation, so that it is visible everywhere.

This main space gives access to a large living room and library. To achieve a fluid relationship between outdoor life and the flat, we created a social area by placing a bench in the front line to enjoy the views and thus link the indoor space with the outdoor space in a much more intimate way. Thanks to this element, the social connection between the two is correct so that both the house and the street have elements, filters, adequate barriers to interact in the appropriate measure, giving life and light to each other. Finally, in the most central space of the dwelling, but still on the right-hand side, a guest bedroom and a complete bathroom are completed.

From the entrance hall, on the left-hand side, we access the night area: a hallway that leads to a bathroom and three double bedrooms. These bedrooms open onto interior patios or the central courtyard. The master bedroom, or suite, is the result of the union of two rooms and a hallway, and has a large dressing room and a private bathroom.

4. Interiorisme

In such a unique setting in a characteristic building in Barcelona's Eixample district, the intervention was designed with the aim of transforming the home while respecting the original architecture without altering it. The compartmentalized layout is converted into a sequence of fluid and versatile spaces, taking away its original rigidity. With the courtyard as the central nucleus, the house has been divided into three zones: the reception area, the day area and the night area. These spaces are designed to be separate, but with the possibility of linking them as required, through wide doors. The connection between spaces, together with a selection of light and soft finishes, allows for maximum luminosity. The proposed atmosphere is cosmopolitan, elegant and timeless. The materials are noble and of natural origin: wood, marble, wool and cotton. The base of the decoration is neutral with pieces of international design and contemporary art, trying to achieve an image of sober luxury. Finally, a colour scheme close to nature is proposed: greens, ochres, greys, whites and blacks.