local barcelona designers foster elegant tourism in yök casa + cultura

local barcelona designers foster elegant tourism in yök casa + cultura
upcycled kitchen in casa A with locally made furniture by AOO
photo © carlos barruz
all images courtesy of yök casa + cultura

‘we are not a hotel, but we are not your typical rental apartment either. think of our casas as your own private home that comes with a hotel-like service and the social fun of your local hangout.’ this how ‘yok casa + cultura‘ defines its company philosophy and how the atmosphere it provides caters to everyone’s needs.  

casa A living room
photo © carlos barruz

the resort is defined by three units, all dating back to the 1900s, that have been renovated following eco-design principles. they visually respect the catalan modernism features through their high decorative ceilings, mosaic tiles, etched glass, and wooden sliding balcony doors. a great effort was put into reusing or sourcing materials and adding VOC-free, recyclable components to the mix. furthermore, smart water and energy saving devices help save resources without sacrificing the guests’ experience. this was all possible through help from different local designers such as guillem ferran, marc morro (AOO), lagranja for santa & cole, and damon bopp.

floating, upcycled kitchen in casa B
photo © carlos barruz

the brand’s name comes from the catalan word ‘lloc’, meaning place or location. it is also the metaphor for yolk – the center of things, where the energy lies, and also serves as a binder of ingredients. the two dots mark the link to founder petz scholtus’ previous brand, pöko design. the symbol, designed by katie barcelona, is an abstraction of by salvador dalí’s logo for the lollipop chupa chups.

a bedroom room with balcony in casa B
photo © carlos barruz

while ‘casa’ represents the part of the business that refers to the apartment lettings, ‘cultura’ is another important side of the project. upstairs on the extended rooftop terrace and in the multi-functional office, the two hosts petz and mari, organize events for both their guests from near and far. it is important for them to not create yet another visitor bubble in a city affected by mass tourism, but instead show that different way of exploring a country, and a business good for people, planet, and profit is possible.

the decor of casa C
photo © carlos barruz

casa C living room
photo © carlos barruz

room in casa C with wall fresco from 1900
photo © carlos barruz

twin beds in casa C
photo © carlos barruz

room with private balcony and bathroom in casa C
photo © carlos barruz

yök graphic based on by salvador dalí’s logo for chupa chups

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.