The Gothic Quarter Apartment is a renovation of a small apartment with a terrace in the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter behind the City Hall in Spain. Designed by YLAB Architects, the original 1,399 square foot (130 square meters) space is composed of a sequence of bright and spacious rooms connected by large arched openings, with balconies along the facade and an inner courtyard. Original features are maintained such as traditional Catalan ceilings with wooden beams and vaulted arches, as well as exterior carpentry with wooden shutters. The goal of the redesign was to create a peaceful environment which allows its young owner privacy and a work place, while creating a social meeting place for meals and parties. There is a division of two areas, one open and social and the other one private: the first is comprised of the sequence of entrance hall, kitchen and living room, while the second consists of the bedroom suite.

The kitchen-dining room, a spacious and clean space, warm and elegant, recalls the old clubs and cafes. The ceiling and longitudinal wall, which begins in the entrance vestibule, are paneled with tinted pine wood slats, assembled by hand. The paneling integrates much of the kitchen furniture and auxiliary spaces, simplifying the geometry of the kitchen space. At the back, a division of dark grey glass separates a small guest bedroom from the rest of the space. The living room is located in the center of the apartment and communicates the rooms with each other. Because of its size and position, it is conceived as a perfect white frame where the furniture, modular and free-standing, can be configured according to the occasion.

The bathroom is a place of relaxation, intimate and sensual, oriented towards the courtyard garden. The walls are paneled entirely in phenolic board with a high-gloss finish, concealing the storage and perimeter led lighting fixtures. All bathroom fittings are free standing and rounded to enhance the feeling of spaciousness. The shower area and the toilet are hidden behind a translucent glass. The continuous concrete paving, the walls and new wooden carpentry, all in ivory white, are common elements all through the house, giving light and serving as a common thread throughout the different spaces. Via

Visit the website of YLAB Architects here.