Once Catalonia’s industrial center, El Poblenou in Barcelona has more recently been reinvigorated by a burgeoning creative class. Positioned between bustling downtown and the beach, the area’s historic factories and warehouses are now showrooms, galleries, studios, and start-up offices. Nearby apartment buildings, too, are seeing renovations. Recently, local firm Atzura Arquitectura was tasked with updating a 1930s unit for a couple with a young daughter.

The apartment’s layout was at odds with contemporary standards. One facade faced the street, while the other faced the building’s courtyard, leaving the interiors rather dark. Atzur’s challenge was to devise a modern, light-filled layout while preserving the building’s charms.

The architects devised a spatial strategy that clearly distinguishes the areas. They placed two bedrooms near the facade that faces the quiet courtyard, and kept them small to preserve space in the 970-square-foot apartment.

The common areas—the dining room, kitchen, office, and living room—are consolidated into a single open space along the bustling, street-facing facade. This approach maximized natural light, and increased natural ventilation. The cumulative effect is “a sensation of spaciousness and fluidity throughout the apartment,” says Atzur.

Many of the original elements were restored, including the home’s brightly patterned floor tiles. The barrel-vaulted ceilings, finished in ceramic, were also preserved and painted white for a contemporary touch that makes the apartment feel breezy.

When new materials were inserted, they were selected with respect to the building’s historic fabric. This creative decision resulted in a “formal and colorful game, leaving a track record of time,” explain the architects.

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Atzur Arquitectura / @atzur_arquitectura

Structural Engineer: Ernesto Hermosa

Interior Design: Atzur Arquitectura / @atzur_arquitectura

Photography: Luis Díaz Díaz / @luisdiazdiaz

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Original Tile Sets the Stage for a Family’s Apartment Revamp in Barcelona