Houzz Tour: A Tranquil Retreat by the Spanish Seaside
Wood, plants, and pops of colour make this apartment in a former fishing district in Barcelona the perfect vacation pad
These homeowners spent their first vacations as a couple in Barcelona. Falling in love with the city – and each other – they bought a vacation home so they could keep coming back. “The apartment had belonged to an elderly couple. It was about 40 square meters [430 square feet] and very much compartmentalised,” says Egue y Seta studio architect Gaia Trotta, who oversaw the renovation. By knocking down walls and getting rid of the hallway they managed to create three adjoining rooms, united by common materials and multifunctional furniture.
The original apartment had an entrance hall, three rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. The new spatial distribution is better suited for contemporary life. The open plan living room, dining room and kitchen is the main part of the house. Since the owners enjoy cooking, it also serves as a social area. “They don’t mind that it’s the first thing you see when you enter the house,” Trotta says.
“We wanted a kitchen that would be warm and comfortable, and the owners proposed using wood,” Trotta says.
Kitchen: Kvik; customised dining table: Piknik-Store; chairs: Masters, by Kartell; lamp: Bell, by Normann Copenhagen
“We wanted a kitchen that would be warm and comfortable, and the owners proposed using wood,” Trotta says.
Kitchen: Kvik; customised dining table: Piknik-Store; chairs: Masters, by Kartell; lamp: Bell, by Normann Copenhagen
The living room is very bright thanks to two large balconies. The sofa bed accommodates friends visiting from out of town. The Brooke and Graphik nesting tables are by Maisons du Monde. The rug is from Sukhi.
The large cabinet divides the social and private spaces. It has a glass frame with iron muntins and a glass doorway.
Materials lend cohesion to the space: Natural oak flooring is used throughout the apartment, and every room features the same patterned cement tiles. All of the floors are from Neocerámica.
“We chose cement tiles because the owners wanted a touch of the Barcelona aesthetic,” Trotta says. “This kind of tile is typical of the houses of [this area], and it is still trendy.”
Materials lend cohesion to the space: Natural oak flooring is used throughout the apartment, and every room features the same patterned cement tiles. All of the floors are from Neocerámica.
“We chose cement tiles because the owners wanted a touch of the Barcelona aesthetic,” Trotta says. “This kind of tile is typical of the houses of [this area], and it is still trendy.”
A second unit like the one in the kitchen serves as a closet in the bedroom. To save space, gleaming white sliding doors were installed.
Glass creates a visual connection between spaces, while also allowing more light to pass through. Adjustable wooden Venetian blinds from Living 66 provide privacy in the bedroom suite.
The multifunctional unit is complemented by house plants that give the space a fresh touch – a recurring feature in Egue y Seta projects. As a matter of fact, “[the owners] knew about it and wanted us to give the project a touch of nature,” Trotta says.
The shelf over the headboard is made of the same material as the kitchen countertops.
The shelf over the headboard is made of the same material as the kitchen countertops.
The headboard includes built-in bedside tables. It was designed to be deep enough to store luggage, which Trotta says the clients specifically requested.
The en suite bathroom matches the rest of the house and likewise features lots of glass. Wooden venetian blinds provide privacy.
The bed and dresser are from Ikea. The Eos Large lamp is by Vita copenhagen.
The bed and dresser are from Ikea. The Eos Large lamp is by Vita copenhagen.
The bathroom is where the kitchen used to be. The walls are covered with about 8-by-2-inch (20-by-5-centimetre) white tiles and the floor is a continuation of the ceramic tiles used in the living room, both by Neocerámica.
The brass pendant light fixtures above the washbasin are by Anglepoise. The faucet is by Hansgrohe, and the toilet by Roca Meridian.
The brass pendant light fixtures above the washbasin are by Anglepoise. The faucet is by Hansgrohe, and the toilet by Roca Meridian.
Colour plays an important role in the project, giving this house a Mediterranean touch so characteristic of seaside homes.
“At the start, the owners were considering a simpler aesthetic in black and white. We proposed integrating colour. Are our clients satisfied? Way more than that: They love it,” says Trotta, who is equally happy with the end results.
“At the start, the owners were considering a simpler aesthetic in black and white. We proposed integrating colour. Are our clients satisfied? Way more than that: They love it,” says Trotta, who is equally happy with the end results.
Floor plan
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Barceloneta district, Barcelona, Spain
Size: About 430 square feet (40 square metres)
Architect: Gaia Trotta, Egue y Seta
The homeowners knew for sure that they wanted to make the most of life in a coastal city, so they focused their search on the seaside district of Barceloneta.
“They found the ideal apartment, but it was in very bad condition,” Trotta says. “We discovered false ceilings in some parts of the house, so we decided to restore the original Catalan clay-block vault and the exposed beams.” The original brick walls were also renovated, since they give the house its character.