Colourful Studio Apartment in Madrid

A bold, budget-savvy makeover gives this compact Madrid apartment an outsized personality.

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Javier de Paz

As bland, mass-produced apartments designed for quick sales continue to pop up everywhere, the quest for individuality often comes at a premium. Either you splurge on a bespoke interior or settle for the same cookie-cutter layout and bland colour scheme as your next-door neighbour. But as TUR House in Madrid proves, creativity – not budget – can be the defining factor in transforming a space.

Nestled in Carabanchel, a working-class suburb in the Spanish capital, this colourful 56 m² studio apartment defies convention thanks to the vibrant redesign by Joaquín Millán Villamuelas, lead architect at OOIIO. The architectural studio is known for transforming ordinary spaces with inventive, budget-conscious design solutions. In TUR House, Joaquín’s use of colour, geometric shapes and unexpected material combinations creates an environment that is both fun and livable (similar to these pastel-hued homes).

Affordable materials and off-the-shelf decor solutions are elevated through thoughtful interventions. The small colourful floors tiles evoke the feeling of an outdoor patio, with a yellow light beaming down like a radiant sun. The bedroom – deliberately childlike in its aesthetic – with its Murphy bed extends into the living space like a drifting cloud.

The stark white IKEA kitchen nook was revamped with a custom wood-panelled countertop, and its white cupboard doors were enhanced with panels that reflect the shapes and colour palettes of the rest of the home.

The standout feature of the apartment is its ceramic tilework. Covering the walls in plush pink, deep berry, and rich teal, the glossy surfaces add warmth and depth while visually harmonising the space. | ooiio.com

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