For Marcel
by MH.AP

Designed by local office MH.AP Studio, this project is an abandoned 100 sq.m. storage space in the basement of a building from the 50’s in Barcelona turned into a loft & studio.

The project develops around two patios: a bigger one with loads of light, and a smaller that ensures good crossed natural ventilation. The living space and rooms are openly placed parallel to the big patio to take advantage of the natural light.

13'5x4m originally built with Catalan vaults ceiling to be maintained.

A small shed located in the patio, covering 1/2 of the surface, was reduced to 1/4th of its area to gain more natural light around the dining area.

This is where Marcel’s room is located, looking at the outdoor shower, planters, and exotic plants.

Darkness is embraced by compressing and lowering the ceiling, then adding Farrow & Balls Red Earth to enhance the transition between spaces.

Next to the entrance, the bathroom and the studio are organised around the secondary patio.

Plants are strategically placed to profit from an outdoor spot that has no direct sunlight.

There are no big new formal gestures except where, at the entrance, a stair-like closet takes advantage of an otherwise strange corner.

The structure of the building is made out of big, thick, old concrete walls, that provides a lot of thermal inertia to the interior, maintaining a very comfortable temperature throughout the year.

With huge stones and bad quality cement.

The slabs were only painted, exposing its contextual beauty. A concrete bench wraps the living room and the custom made plywood + Formica kitchen is placed in the center, where everyday life takes place.

Originally built with Catalan vaults in the 50s.

Industrial Oak flooring was chosen for its aesthetic coherence with the existing form.

Both courtyards are completely rebuilt to ensure a good drainage. For the main patio, white hexagonal mosaic from an old ceramic factory was used to increase light reflection.

These tiny mosaics required a flexible netting to make bigger tiles, a process done in MH.AP’s studio.

Author MH.AP Studio (Marina Huguet Blasi, Andrés Peñuela Betancur)
Location Barcelona, Spain
Year 2019
Client Private
Surface 110+30sqm
Photography Luis Diaz Diaz
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