The property subject to this comprehensive refurbishment is a penthouse apartment located in a building dating back to 1953 in Barcelona’s Gràcia neighbourhood. The dwelling occupies the entire floor plate in an ‘I’ shape, wrapping around the building’s vertical core, with two narrow corridors on either side connecting the two wings of the home.

While the property was well-maintained, it presented structural issues due to high-alumina cement concrete beams, which required reinforcement using steel sections installed on the underside. The circular columns supporting these beams were retained and left exposed, endowing the open-plan living-dining-kitchen area with a structural feature that helps to organise the different zones without the need for partitioning.

Regarding the layout, the main living spaces—living room, dining room, and kitchen—were relocated to take advantage of the favourable south-west orientation and access to the terrace. Meanwhile, the bedrooms were positioned on the opposite side of the apartment, facing east. Overlooking the block’s interior courtyard rather than the street, this arrangement ensures greater peace and quiet at night.

The project’s materiality is defined primarily by porcelain stoneware flooring in the day zone and timber flooring in the night zone, adding warmth to the bedrooms. The bathrooms are tiled in the same light grey tone as the living area flooring to harmonise finishes throughout the home. Walls and doors are finished in white, with the exception of certain feature walls painted in other tones to add a touch of personality, tailored to the clients’ taste.

Regarding the building services, the existing radiators were replaced by a system of two fan coil units (serving the day and night zones respectively) with hot and cold air ducts. It is worth noting that return air vents were installed in all rooms to ensure optimal system performance and greater sustainability.