This stunning home is located in a modernist building in the heart of the Quadrat d'Or neighborhood in Barcelona. Originally two separate floors, the property from 1901 was combined into a single unit in the mid-20th century while retaining its two access doors.

Upon entering this house of 650 m2, we were struck by its appearance. The original doors and windows were preserved, along with the hydraulic floors and two rooms with a gallery. However, the modernist past was eliminated from most spaces. Modernism was replaced by neoclassical elements that were added in the main bays seeking an image of opulence (travertine marble floors, columns, pilasters, medallions, figures...).

The challenge of our studio was huge. What should be done with the neoclassical decorative layers that were added to the original modernist home? Should we eliminate them all in a more radical and costly intervention erasing their history?

In addition, the house had to become a space adapted to the changing needs of the family. We had to find a way for them to enjoy a spacious home for 14 people, when the whole family got together, or a cozy apartment for just 2 when the children were away.

The legacy of “La Herencia” by Catalan architect José Antonio Coderch, in which the Master designed a flexible floor plan where the living space grows and decreases according to the changing needs of a family, gave us an idea to solve the best floor plan layout.

We designed sliding, watertight doors with locks that can be used to open or close different areas as per the requirements. Now, this allows the space to be configured either as a single 7-room home or as two apartments with separate entrances.

Additionally, we decided to showcase the history of the space from its existing state. We chose to execute a bold intervention that employs the use of color -or lack thereof- to indicate the stages that the home has gone through.

- The main bays of the house were wrapped in intense colored ribbons, creating a "marked" effect on the floors, ceilings, and walls perpendicular to the façade. Therefore, the walls parallel to the façade retain their white color, which runs throughout the entire home. To indicate the added neoclassical elements, blue and green colors were chosen, which match the tones of the original carpentry on both facades.

- In the secondary bays, where additional structural support was added, the ornamental features were removed to reveal the original structure. As a result, more industrial elements such as joists and vaulted ceilings, iron beams, and pillars are now visible.

- The spaces that preserve modernist elements were painted white, covering the wooden carpentry and ceilings with original moldings.

The intervention was based on a concept where the application of color is not just for aesthetics, but to create a visually powerful home. This approach gave a second life to the elements that were added 70 years ago, promoting reuse instead of demolition.