raúl sanchez adds spacial richness to graphic patterns with wooden curve in barcelona

in this interior project, architectural practice raul sanchez architects aimed to renew a barcelona house’s outdated floor plan, while minimizing demolition. previously existing features, meant to create a home for seasonal rentals, were mostly kept. the idea was to change the way the house has been lived in by making only a few changes. although the new kitchen maintains its current location, it now opens up to the living room through an opening in the wall that separates these two spaces. 

the new kitchen opens up to the living room
all images © jose hevia

between the living room and the kitchen, raul sanchez added a new curved partition that creates a dining area. it does not reach the ceiling as it is only 180 cm tall — it’s purpose is to create a distinct area without splitting the space, adding interior circulation complexity and spatial richness. the rest of the interior interventions on the ground floor are focused on creating a space continuum without physical separation but using specific elements to define the different areas based on their function.

a new partition creates a dining area

on the first floor, again with the aim of preserving the old structure, the five-bedroom layout is kept, but the features of the central bedroom are completely changed: its opaque doorway becomes transparent, with the possibility of opening the room to the hallway completely through two large sliding doors. the room’s function becomes flexible, as it can be separated from the rest as a bedroom (with an opaque curtain), as a game or reading room, or as the extension of the hallway into the outdoor terrace.

the interior elements are focused on creating a space continuum

concealed built-in closets hide folding beds and storage surfaces, enabling different uses for these rooms. replacing the floors, as well as the new wall lining, helps reinforce this new strategy. a new black ceramic floor in a herringbone pattern unifies all the areas on the ground floor, and is used in the common areas at the first floor as well.

the five-bedroom layout is kept, but the features of the central bedroom are completely changed

the solutions for the floors can be read as a dialectical play: on the ground floor, the spaces are physically connected but visually and functionally separated, while on the first floor, the main room is visually connected but physically separated. the oak veneer boards reinforce this play, lining the curved partition on the ground floor, and the unifying the hallway and central room continuum.

the main bedroom’s doorway is transparent

the room can be open to the hallway completely through two large sliding doors

the first floor spaces are visually connected but physically separated

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project info:

project title: casa 1016
location: castelldefels (barcelona)
designer: raul sanchez architects
collaborators: marés ingenieros (engineering), diagonal estructuras (structure), nordicthink (furniture), quality homes factory (construction)
area: 170 sqm
photography: jose hevia