Located within Bogotá’s historic La Soledad neighbourhood near the Park Way district, Palma Apartment by Cabida Arquitectura transforms a 190-square-metre apartment into two 85-square-metre homes. The project demonstrates how sensitive renovation can adapt an existing apartment to contemporary lifestyles while preserving its architectural character.
Building on the layered history of the neighbourhood, the renovation integrates original architectural elements with new interventions. Rather than treating heritage features as fixed artefacts, it reinterprets them within a flexible spatial framework that supports long-term use and reduces the need for extensive reconstruction.
Adaptive reuse of an existing apartment
The project adopts adaptive reuse as its primary sustainability strategy by retaining much of the existing apartment fabric and selectively subdividing and reconfiguring the interior to accommodate changing patterns of living. Original architectural features are incorporated into the new design, allowing the apartment’s character and embodied resources to be preserved while improving functionality.
By working within the existing apartment, the renovation minimises construction waste and the environmental impacts associated with demolition and replacement. The resulting homes are organised to support multiple uses, allowing them to adapt to future household needs without requiring major alterations.
Material continuity and environmental quality
The intervention employs a restrained palette of durable materials that complement the original architecture while enhancing everyday comfort. New additions are designed to coexist with existing finishes, reinforcing continuity rather than contrast and extending the useful life of the apartment’s fabric.
A defining feature of the renovation is the use of ribbed glass partitions, which introduce privacy while allowing daylight to penetrate the interiors. Unlike fully transparent glazing, the textured glass diffuses light and softens visual connections between spaces, improving daylight distribution and occupant comfort without compromising spatial openness.
