In the heart of the Quadrat d’Or neighborhood in Barcelona, Estudio Vilablanch has transformed a 650-square-metre (6,996-square-foot) Capas · Historia · Color apartment, adapting its design to accommodate both modern and neoclassical elements.
Originally two distinct floors of a modernist building built in 1901, the home is now a single unit that retains traces of its luxurious past, including travertine marble floors and the use of color throughout the apartment.
Upon entering the house, we were struck by its solemn appearance. The original doors and windows were preserved, along with the hydraulic floors and two rooms with a gallery. However, the modernist past was eliminated from most spaces. Modernism was replaced by neoclassical elements that were added in the main bays seeking an image of luxury and opulence (travertine marble floors, columns, pilasters, medallions, figures…).
In 1955, when the building was reconstructed and the two main bays were merged, structural reinforcements were added to the secondary bays. These reinforcements were covered with a neoclassical style to enhance and beautify the transit spaces.
The challenge of our studio was huge. What should be done with the neoclassical decorative layers that were added to the original modernist home? Should we eliminate them all in a more radical and costly intervention, erasing their history? How to transform this “neoclassical palace” into a modern home?
In addition, the house, with a total of 650 m2 (6,996 ft2), had to become a space that adapted to the changing needs of the family. We had to find a way for them to enjoy a spacious home for 14 people, when the whole family got together, or a cozy apartment for just 2 when the children were away.
The legacy of “La Herencia” by Catalan architect José Antonio Coderch, in which the Master designed a flexible floor plan where the living space grows and decreases according to the changing needs of a family, gave us an idea to solve the best floor plan layout.
We designed sliding, watertight doors with locks that can be used to open or close different areas as per the requirements. Now, this allows the space to be configured either as a single 7-room home or as two apartments with separate entrances. Additionally, by opening or closing these doors, the intermediate area can be expanded or reduced in one direction or another.
We decided to approach the challenge with humor and honesty, by showcasing the history of the space, starting from its existing state. We chose to execute a bold and daring intervention that employs the use of color – or lack thereof – to indicate the various stages that the home has gone through.
– The main bays of the house were wrapped in intense colored ribbons, creating a “marked” effect on the floors, ceilings, and walls perpendicular to the façade. Therefore, the walls parallel to the façade retain their white color, which runs throughout the entire home. To indicate the added neoclassical elements, blue and green colors were chosen, which match the tones of the original carpentry on both facades.
– In the secondary bays, where additional structural support was added, the ornamental features were removed to reveal the original structure. As a result, more industrial elements such as joists and vaulted ceilings, iron beams, and pillars are now visible.
– The spaces that preserve modernist elements were painted white, covering the wooden carpentry and ceilings with original moldings.
The intervention was based on a concept where the application of color is not just for aesthetics, but to create a visually powerful home. This approach gave a second life to the elements that were added 70 years ago, promoting reuse instead of demolition.
