Virrey Apartment

Motivated by the interest in giving a fresh air and contemporary style to their home, a newly married couple commissioned the architects Nicolás Mujica and Felipe Robayo - founders of the architecture and interior design firm Contrafuerte - to remodel their apartment, located in the vicinity of El Virrey park, in the north of Bogotá.

The building that houses it, built more than 15 years ago, is designed according to a criteria which are now obsolete, translating to spaces that are not very functional for the current dynamics. Hence, one of the essential premises was to adapt the spatial distribution to the way of life of its residents.

The kitchen, previously small and inefficient, is enlarged to integrate with the dining room and living room, allowing the social area not only to host various activities, such as social and family gatherings, but also to be perceived as one whole space. Additionally, after this modification, the kitchen has better lighting thanks to the light that enters through the living room windows, framing the park's landscape.

The aesthetic of the project is given by the material honesty and industrial look. The original stairs were replaced by metal ones with the intention of lightening them and complementing the industrial image of the whole. Likewise, the lower part of the kitchen counter is covered with a metallic sheet whose surface, curved and homogeneous, contrasts with the veins of the marble in the upper part and the natural wood in which the cabinetry is made. The textured microcement and rustic brick walls also stand out, as they bring together contemporary and timeless qualities.