Spanish architect Mariana de Delás was undaunted by the prospect of converting a crumbling motorcycle repair shop into an apartment. In 2017, she’d transformed an industrial space in the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona into a live/work studio, and she considers Palma Hideaway, as the project is called, a continuation of that work. “Palma Hideaway is the result of an ongoing exploration on how to dwell in ground-floor spaces sited in dense urban fabrics,” says the firm.

Before: Entry

The 990-square-foot motorcycle shop is located in the old quarter of the city of Palma on the island of Mallorca in Spain, and needed to be outfitted into a two-bedroom, two-bath home. The first challenge with an existing space like this is mediating how the private apartment will meet with the busy street. “As the existing ground-floor access door created a very violent connection between the road and the studio, it was essential to integrate an intermediate buffer garden area,” says the firm.

This buffer starts with a perforated-iron, folding door, which can be opened completely. When closed, the door lends a layer of visual privacy without sacrificing natural light. Behind it, an entry vestibule is tucked off the sidewalk and lined with wood-framed windows, a green tiled planter, and an integrated wood bench, which creates a more natural entry sequence.

After: Street Facade

For the apartment’s interior layout, the firm inserted a diagonal wood wall to separate the primary suite at the front of the house from the main public spaces, which includes a kitchen, dining room, and living room with built-in couches. The bedroom and closet portion of the primary suite was elevated a few steps to foster a cozy intimacy.

Before: Primary Suite

After: Primary Suite

The firm pared back the material palette throughout the home in order to highlight the traditional Mallorcan limestone used for the shell of the building, as well as the high, barrel-vaulted ceilings. Polished concrete floors and light wood cabinetry meld with the neutral tones of the existing features, and accents were chosen in two complementary colors—emerald green, for tile and custom cabinetry, and a punchy pink, found on the base of the kitchen work table.

Before: Living Areas

After: Living Areas

Before: Courtyard

After: Courtyard

More Before & After:

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Project Credits:

Architecture: Mariana de Delás / @marianadedelas

Team: Ines Bonet, Blanca Gomez

Home Staging & Greenery: Belén Larraz

Table Design: Mariana de Delás & 2Monos Studio

Photography: José Hevia