The proposal is to adapt a space of approximately 60m2 in a residential building located on one of the main streets in the city center of Salamanca into an apartment for a young retired couple.
The property, part of a larger original dwelling used as an engineering office, is configured as an open-plan room with three large windows and balconies overlooking the street, and an interior vestibule with the entrance and a bathroom.
Instead of the more conventional initial option of dividing the space into two or three rooms according to the facade openings and fitting the program, the design prefers to maintain the unified, open, and fluid character of the space, thus avoiding hallways. A succession of through-living areas is presented, with views and diagonal connections between them.

The space is articulated by a central gray-framed unit that conceals three floor-to-ceiling sliding panels, which function as both partitions and doors. Depending on whether they are extended or retracted, the relationship and independence between the areas can be adjusted. The decision was made to bring the areas of greatest activity and use closer to natural light and views of the exterior, while adopting an alcove-style interior solution for the bedroom.
In this way, the space is distributed from the entrance with a distinct area that includes the foyer, bathroom, and a storage room for laundry, cleaning supplies, and utilities; a spacious kitchen with a wall of cabinets, countertop, and breakfast area, and a dining table with a paneled back; then, diagonally, a living room with a bench-sideboard, shelving, and a built-in bed for occasional use; and finally, behind it, the alcove with wardrobes and a paneled headboard.

The interior ambiance is defined by a limited number of materials and textures. Interior woodwork and wardrobes are finished with lacquered boards in shades of gray. The main flooring is oak laminate, while the entrance area features small-format gray porcelain tiles that cover the floors and the bathroom walls. The semicircular shower is clad in rectangular white tiles and enclosed by a hinged transparent glass screen.
From an energy and comfort perspective, the entire perimeter of the apartment is insulated with a high-density air gap, and the exterior aluminum windows are replaced with double-glazed, low-emissivity glass. New wall-mounted radiators are also installed. Interior lighting is provided by energy-efficient bulbs and LED strips.
The result is a unique, versatile, and tranquil urban retreat.

Team:

Architects: Acciones Arquitectónicas Temporales (OAAT)

Construction Company: Construcciones Gil

Photographer: Gabriel Gallegos Alonso

Materials Used:

Cortizo, aluminum joinery
Pladur, partitions, ceilings and wall linings
Marazzi, porcelain stoneware for floors and walls
Finsa Finflooring, laminate flooring
Roca, bathroom fixtures
Profiltek, bathroom fixtures
Tres, bathroom faucets
Baxi, wall-mounted radiators
Rasokit, flush-to-wall door systems
Klein, sliding door systems
Simon, electrical products
Santos, kitchen and living room furniture
Tegar, bedroom and storage furniture