cadaval & solà-morales converts former theater and warehouse into vibrant live-work space

barcelona- and mexico city-based firm cadaval & solà-morales has converted a former toilet paper warehouse into a contemporary live-work space. located within barcelona’s vibrant el poblenou district, the building was originally constructed as a theater in the late 19th century. by exploiting the structure’s scale and size, the project seeks to recover and capitalize on the spatial qualities present as a result of the building’s original function.

all images by sandra pereznieto

residents and guests access the house through an entrance where a classic car appears as a piece of sculptural art. the home is articulated around a vast central space that has been programed for loft-like use. here, the lounge, dining room, kitchen, and study share a single space that despite its scale becomes cozy thanks to the accumulation of uses, objects, and the textures of its exposed materials: wood, metal, brick, and stone.

by removing part of the warehouse’s roof, cadaval & solà-morales created a patio that serves as an outdoor extension of the main living area. the patio offers a setting for meals surrounded by vegetation. meanwhile, a small swimming pool provides a place to cool off and unwind after exercise or work. this void also ensures that the rest of the home is naturally illuminated and ventilated.

illuminated by two large windows that establish a direct relationship with the street, two work studios are positioned above the entrance to the house. both studios occupy a mezzanine level with an area for a kitchen and a bathroom on the ground floor. the sleeping quarters are found at the opposite end of the property, with two bedrooms on the first floor, and another, with an adjoining terrace, situated on the level above.

‘the project tries to respect to the maximum the original condition of the existing warehouse,’ explains cadaval & solà-morales. ‘its structure is not modified, only reinforced. its walls are not demolished just restored and the few new architectural elements that are added do so without significantly affecting the original building. the idea is to built without affecting the existing. understanding that over time the theater will surely have another use and another life.’

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project info:

name: the theatre
architect: cadaval & solà-morales
project: eduardo cadaval & clara solà-morales
structural engineering: carmela torró micó
location: barcelona
area: 330 sqm (3,552 sqf)
date: 2019
photography: sandra pereznieto