This 90 m² apartment in Barcelona’s Eixample district is home to Bernat, an architect and co-founder of SIGLA Studio, his partner Liliana, and their dog, Hachi. Built in 1925, its location in the heart of the city has greatly influenced the renovation, guiding the designers to respect the building’s historical elements. The apartment reflects the essence of classic Eixample architecture, with high ceilings, interconnected spaces, and construction techniques typical of early 20th-century Barcelona. The traditional structure, composed of load-bearing walls, wooden beams, and Catalan ceramic vaults, has been preserved and reintegrated throughout.
The layout centers around a restored entrance hallway, where original brick textures are showcased alongside lime and plaster reintegration work. Moving the kitchen from a dark, interior space to a brighter, exterior-facing area has significantly transformed the apartment, allowing it to open up to a large courtyard. This change introduces natural light and cross-ventilation, enhancing the living experience. A circular opening was created in the load-bearing wall between the master bedroom and the living room, bringing light into the bedroom while fostering a sense of openness.
With an approach rooted in comfort, privacy, and domesticity, the project seeks to achieve an inner calm through carefully chosen materials and design details. Original features like the wooden beams and doors have been meticulously restored, and the historic windows were updated with double glazing. Bathrooms are finished in lime stucco, with Carrara marble sinks, and the load-bearing walls reveal a texture of manual brick, complemented by traditional lime stucco and potassium silicate washes on partition walls. These materials and techniques emphasize a connection to the building’s heritage, while also incorporating sustainable, local resources with low environmental impact, such as cork-based insulation.
Inspired by craftsmanship and a dedication to the home, the renovation reflects the values of family, intimacy, and warmth. The designers sought to rehabilitate this traditional apartment with care, preserving materials that have long been part of Catalan architecture. The result is a seamless blend of past and present, where each room breathes authenticity and timelessness through the honest use of construction materials and traditional techniques. Natural north-south ventilation throughout the apartment enhances the experience, creating a space that is both practical and serene.
