Alteration of an Ensanche Flat by Miel Architects
Miel Architects have completed an alteration to an ensanche flat in Barcelona, Spain.
Full description after the photos….
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Alteration of an Ensanche Flat by Miel Architects
The alteration of the flat SANTPERE47 is a rereading of the spatial structure of the typical Barcelona’s Ensanche flat of the end of the 19th century, succession of isolated rooms and disconnected courts. SANTPERE47 dissolves the structure of walls through new physical and visual connections.
It was reading the flat when we discovered a geometric coincidence in the Cartesian plot, a diagonal axis that followed the hollows of the entrance’s door, of an intermediate pass through and of one of the large windows faced to the street. This way was born the diagonal that organizes the project.
The restructuring of the former spaces of the flat gives place to visual unexpected whose origin always is the principal room that does the times of “room of control”. From it, across the court you see another room, across the distributor a bath appears and across the bath ensuite is the living; it is this “diluted” bath the one that allows you to brush your teeth with the light and the reflection of the trees of the street.
Two golden guides re-follow the bodies that slip on both sides of the diagonal, two technical guides that support the wired up, lighting, guides of doors and a sliding stairs. These golden lines establish a horizontal division in the flat: up to 2,20 m it flows the living space and above the given space floats, with another scale organizes mezzanines of storage, bottle racks, the entry of zenithal light in the bath or a polyvalent room.
SANTPERE47 is a fresh dialog with his origins that one discovers between the golden art craft ceiling of the dining room and the dance of drops of illuminated water, in the tactile experience of the girders of wood that support the floor within reach of your hands in the mezzanine or in the stairs – furniture that riches it formed by the mosaic re-consisted of the old living, which reflection multiplies like a magic carpet.
Visit the Miel Architects website – here.
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TW on 22 May 2010 at 6:55 pm #
Yep. Anyone who can reconfigure traditional layouts is a winner in my books.
hZ! on 22 May 2010 at 10:16 pm #
Great use of space. Many thanks for the numerous and instructive diagrams and photos
Arka JNP on 23 May 2010 at 8:33 am #
The horizon line created along the corridor and that appears also in the kitchen, competes with the plaster moldings painted in gold.In my opinion, that line should pass over unnoticed, even in the same white color as the walls. The same should is said for the cabinets on the heights. The bars of the polivalent room up the stair case appears as an isolated element within the design context. All these aspects, are small issues that alter the generating idea of the project itself, and shadowing the primarly concept, which it is quite strong. The diagonal spatial corridor itself, is powerful enough in itself and I see no reason to reinforce it with a continuous line. However, apart from these minor details, the design is evocative and fresh. Congratulations.
TW on 23 May 2010 at 3:13 pm #
Arka – I think you will find that all of things are deliberate.
I like the cut into the moldings. It reminds everyone that this apartment had a former life that doesn’t need to be obliterated.
And the opposing horizontal lines just reinforce the strong diagonal lineals in the apartment.
But I agree about the poles. Looks like an afterthought.
LittleCaesar on 24 May 2010 at 6:17 am #
MEDIOCRE
The staircase is dangerous as it makes one dizzy. Someone could fall.
Arka on 26 May 2010 at 4:19 am #
to TW
The horizontal lines can be enphasized, but I just find that they compete in color with the gold moldings. Horizontal lines and moldings have a diferente generating source concept to my opinion, as I find them, they are of different nature and they are just blended together with similar colors in the outcome. I liked your view point upon the cut in the molding. Thanks.Regards.
arka
E_dy on 28 May 2010 at 9:44 am #
It appears something could be done to combine making the stairs less “dangerous” while keeping the general idea of the “poles” up there so that they would blend in. Maybe ropes, anything…
Just a thought, beautiful work!
ILP on 31 May 2010 at 3:47 pm #
it’s little bad, that the bathroom is only available by going through the “main bedroom”, which is no problem, if you never have guests…
but the concept it’s really cool, I like the way of using both sides of the stairs!
Yasmin Chopin on 08 Jun 2010 at 2:26 am #
I love the way the period ceiling has been treated. By picking out the shapes with a darker paint colour, a modern, funky atmosphere is created. Avoiding the urge to paint it all one colour, thus losing some of the geometry and avoiding the urge to pick out the mouldings in a contrasting colour, thus highlighting the detail, this design attracts attention to the beauty of the mouldings and gives the space real character without it being overbearing. Well done! The hanging lamps add to the casual modern atmosphere too.
Tobias on 20 Oct 2010 at 12:38 am #
I really love the steps.