TAKK exposes old partitions + electrical installations in energy-conscious barcelona revamp

10K apartment renovation by TAKK

Spanish architecture firm TAKK completed the renovation of a 50 sqm apartment in Barcelona with a budget of only 10,000 euros for materials. The aim of the revamp was to convert the apartment to new models of use and raise environmental awareness in the context of the current energy crisis and climate change.

The renovation by the Spanish studio involved reducing the material palette to a minimal canvas while eliminating the need for coatings such as paint, plaster, tiles, etc. The use of standard MDF panels and locally sourced natural sheep’s wool gives the design a raw character while exposing the traces of previous partitions, flooring, and electrical appliances. The renovation also used recycled table legs to raise all built elements, allowing plumbing and electrical installations to be routed freely without the need for joints in the walls.

the renovation reduces the materiality palette to a minimal canvas | all images by José Hevia

layers of spaces nested inside each other

As a first step in the refurbishment, the team at TAKK worked with thermal gradients for the functional and programmatic configuration of the house instead of the usual combination of rooms and corridors. In the new proposal, a layout was chosen in which the climatic and environmental characteristics of each room are different. The different rooms of the house are nestled inside each other, like ‘layers of an onion’, from the coldest to the warmest, in order to take advantage of each layer of air and material without having to provide additional energy.

In addition, the design focused on elevating the structural elements of the house using recycled table legs that allow the free passage of water and electricity installations, thus eliminating the need to make grooves on the walls, and reducing costs and labor time.

the use of standard MDF panels and locally sourced natural sheep wool gives the design a raw character

guided by a minimalist mindset

The renovation is also guided by a minimalist mindset which requires the reduction of materials to a minimum. Materials are chosen to keep the cost-structure ratio and energy efficiency as balanced as possible. For this reason, the construction mainly used standard MDF panels and natural sheep’s wool from the region. At the same time, the architects at TAKK chose not to apply any new coatings (paint, plaster, tiles, etc.) after the demolition, but only to carry out a thorough cleaning of the floors, walls, and ceilings. The traces of the previous partitions, floors, and electrical equipment remain visible after their demolition, which saves both the purchase of new materials and execution time.

A reform is proposed that comes about solely through ‘dry’ assembly work, allowing the involvement of ‘non-experts’ in the construction process. Like a piece of furniture, the various parts of the house (walls, ceilings, columns) arrive at the construction site and are cut beforehand using CNC technology according to the plans of the architectural office. On the construction site, they are assembled by the architects and the builder according to a small manual using standard screws, without the need for specialists.

The bathroom and kitchen spaces occupy the best parts of the house next to the facade. Well-lit and ventilated, they are understood as spaces that can be used even in crowds. The open kitchen configuration promotes an equal use of the space by different members of the house, regardless of their gender. The materiality of the kitchen is no different from the rest of the house, reinforcing this integration.

the design utilizes recycled table legs to raise all built elements off the floor