When Nook Architects set out to renovate a 720-square-foot apartment in Barcelona's Poble Sec district, they knew they wanted to retain the space's characteristic elements—especially the original barrel-vaulted ceilings. They focused on opening up the heavily partitioned layout, and limited the choice of materials to only those previously present in the space—namely, wood, ceramic, and marble.

“We tackle every single project by first studying its starting conditions. From there, we work on important points for the client without losing a balance between these original features and the adopted solutions,” says Joan G Cortés, architect and partner at Nook.

The resulting two-bed, two-bath apartment, named CALDRAP, features a central living area that flows into a bright gallery area, which was once a closed-off sunroom.

A key challenge was maximizing the size of the new living room while working within a compact floor plan. In the end, Joan's team removed several walls that divided the home into compartment-like spaces. The team also downsized the two bedrooms to create a larger, wide-open living area for relaxing and entertaining.

Throughout the new common spaces, marble, wood, and ceramics mix together to form a cohesive design style for the apartment. These warm natural materials are balanced by a crisp, minimal aesthetic.

Related Reading: An Ancient Barcelona Apartment Gets a Colorful, Chic Makeover, In Barcelona, Vaulted Ceilings Are Always a Win

Project Credits:

Architect, Lighting, Cabinetry, and Interior Design: Nook Architects / @nookarchitects

General Contractor: Metric Integra

Structural Engineering: Francesc Gorgas

Photography: Gael del Río / @delriogael

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Barrel-Vaulted Ceilings Take This Barcelona Apartment to New Heights