January 8, 2025

MDF for a Cozy Attic Balances Matte MDF and Custom Terrazzo

MDF for a Cozy Attic in Barcelona by MH.AP features built-in furniture and storage elements made from matte-finish MDF to create a more spacious atmosphere. The compact apartment is transformed with multifunctional spaces, including a corridor accommodating kitchen and wardrobes on one side and a desk and dressing area on the other.

Sleek modern living room with blue sectional sofa, floating shelves, and wood accents.

Multifunctional Design Maximizes Space

As we entered to the original flat we felt disappointed with the 1970’s configuration of the 70-square-metre flat. “What a shame that the terrace is not connected to the living room!” We noted. The apartment had a long corridor and an adjoining row of small, dark rooms that weren’t taking advantage of sunlight from the outdoor terrace. Our main goal was to broaden the home without losing any rooms.

A tastefully designed living space with modern shelves, art, and a cozy blue sofa.

To optimise the space, conventional limits had to be diffused. Typical hallways are a waste of space. They should be more than just be a place to get from A to B: the flat’s new layout sees the hallway transformed into a multifunctional space that accommodates a kitchen suite and wardrobes on one side, and a 60-centimetre-deep desk, dressing table and bench seat on the other.

A minimalist kitchen and living space defined by warm wood tones and clean lines.

Living Room Connects to Terrace

At the end of the corridor, a large open-plan living and dining room is revealed. Spanning the entire width of the flat, the area looks out onto the terrace which is accessed through sliding glass doors. Here a low, L-shaped sofa with bright blue cushions wraps the corner of the room. It’s built into a wall of shelving which displays artworks and decorative objects.

Modern kitchen with sleek brown cabinetry, white countertop, and recessed lighting.

Two bedrooms and a bathroom are located in rooms along the corridor and accessed through doors that match the cabinetry. The bathroom, which is accessed via the corridor and the master bedroom, is clad in grass-green tiles that contrast the apartment’s otherwise brown surfaces.

A modern, minimalist hallway with wooden floors, integrated lighting, and built-in cabinetry.

Unexpected Hallway Sink Adds Character

The sink is placed outside the bathroom in the hallway, a feature that was inspired by a sink in the hall of French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier’s project, Villa Savoye. Although the sink in Villa Savoye is a device that is placed in the entrance lobby for hygienic reasons, what we enjoy about this fact is not its functional reason — but the displacement of a domestic element in an unexpected space.

A circular mirror above a white countertop with a faucet and amber glass vase.

The selected color palette wants to create an enveloping, warm feel in the apartment, enhancing the different phenomenological sensations throughout the path, from the entrance, where shadows are embraced, until the living, where natural light explodes. As architects, we believe in working with raw materials for the natural way they age (patina) and also, these materials can easily meet the required budget. ‘Industrial’ oak parquet flooring was chosen for bare-walking.

Contemporary built-in furniture with circular mirror, drawers, and wooden accents.

Mirrors Enhance Lighting and Space

The countertops of the kitchen in the corridor and the hallway sink are crafted from a custom terrazzo by Huguet Mallorca. Several mirrors have also been inserted throughout the apartment to make living spaces appear larger and bounce natural light into the dark corridor. A reflective panel in the bathroom additionally helps conceal the shower. This project was carefully built by Triflex.