BONBA studio maximizes light in this barcelona apartment refurbishment

in a residential neighborhood in the outskirts of barcelona, studio BONBA has completed the renovation of a 30-year-old apartment inside a four-story building. the goal of the project was to give the apartment a new look, and since all the rooms have outdoor facing windows, to let as much natural light in as possible while creating more open spaces.

images by josé hevia

the property, which was originally built in the 90s, was characterized by dark floors and a compartmentalized layout, as well as a service area and a large kitchen with a suboptimal arrangement. all of this made it difficult to appreciate the charm and potential of the apartment.

BONBA studio‘s first step was to eliminate all the dividing partitions that stopped light from entering deep into the floor plan and to re-organize the space by designing a series of volumes made of wood. these wooden volumes serve both as pieces of furniture and space distributors, creating an overall lighter and more fluid space.

following the refurbishment, when residents enter the house they’re welcomed in the hall by a structure made of natural wood, combined with lacquered wood and granite. through glass doors, to which studio BONBA added wooden handles to give them a floating effect, one enters the kitchen where the terracotta tones of the ceramic titles dictate the colors of the room, finished with a touch of black matt granite.

the design team created an island in the middle of the kitchen with the cooker hood attached to the ceiling to let as much light as possible come through. a table, made from the same terracotta tiles, has also been added to create a more intimate area, as the client likes having breakfast in the kitchen, taking advantage again of all the light that now comes through.

entering the living/dining room area through one of the corridors, the new wooden volumes distribute the space. in the dining room, paneled cupboards and a black granite vaulted niche that serves as support for the dining table are the protagonists. in the living area, a bench was built from side to side of the room with the same terracotta tiles, creates an altar-style area for the TV, following the client’s requirements. to give continuity to the whole space, studio BONBA chose light grey microcement as the paving.

project info:

name: JOLIVER11

location: barcelona, spain

architect: BONBA studio

area: 150 m2

year: 2020

photography: josé hevia

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom