Our Balmes clients reached out to us even before signing the earnest money agreement for their new apartment. They had placed a deposit on a 250 m² residence located in a stately building with an enviable position—not only for its central urban location but also for being situated on the real fifth floor in the heart of Barcelona.

The future owners contacted us early to ensure their envisioned renovation could be realized and would meet the approval of both the building’s residents and the Eixample Heritage Department.

Before they finalized the agreement, we revised the functional layout proposed by the real estate agency. While the clients had a clear idea of their desired program, the agency’s proposal posed some significant challenges: the children would have to cross the foyer to access the bathroom, and the hallway connecting the entry hall to the day area cut through a column chimney that we couldn’t guarantee could be removed without conducting structural probes—an impossibility at that stage.

The revised layout we proposed, aside from minor adjustments during the execution phase, is the one reflected in the final plans:

• The day area, oriented toward the building’s courtyard block, maintains direct connection to the kitchen and the open inner courtyard. The restored gallery, now incorporated into the living room, floods the space with morning light and offers the serene tranquility of the interior block.
• At the opposite end, facing Balmes Street, the master bedroom is arranged as a suite, complete with a generous walk-in closet, reading area, wet area (shower, bathtub, and sinks), and separate toilet.
• At the center lies an elongated distributor hall, leading to the day area while providing access to the powder room and three en-suite bedrooms: two for the children and one for guests—essential in the home of an expatriate couple.

Fortunately, the owners’ desires aligned with Eixample Heritage regulations, as our design restored the apartment’s original character. This included reopening the gallery, reinstating the proportions and materiality of the exterior joinery, and correcting alterations made to the façade openings during prior renovations.

The desired layout required minor interventions on load-bearing walls, necessitating the calculation of five structural reinforcements to open up walls and achieve a more fluid spatial arrangement.

While we aimed to restore the original volta catalana ceilings in the two main spaces—the living-dining room and the master bedroom—the structural modifications of the 1960s had completely removed these elements. Instead, we maximized ceiling height in these areas, using the absence of climate ducts beyond their entry points to gain additional vertical space.

Materiality and Finishes

The project prioritized the recovery of the apartment’s original envelope. Noble materials, such as wood and hydraulic tiles, were used alongside a palette of neutral tones. The exception to this is the vibrant hydraulic tile flooring in the kitchen and powder room, which adds a pop of color to the home.

Particular attention was given to the insulation of the French doors and balcony windows facing Balmes Street. While the original windows could have been preserved, the constant hum of street noise prompted the decision to install new wooden frames with double-contact seals and double-glazed air chambers for enhanced soundproofing.

Restoring the Past, Embracing the Present

This thoughtful intervention—respecting the recovery of original materials and blending them with contemporary, warm finishes—aims to return the apartment to a state more honest to the building’s architectural roots while accommodating modern comfort and lifestyle standards.