Cool Spaces: Renovated Barcelona Apartment

WORDS Cheri Morris IMAGES Roberto Ruiz


After an explosion severely damaged the Klinker family’s newly-bought Barcelona holiday apartment, architecture studio CaSA (Colombo and Serboli Architecture) was commissioned to salvage its original art nouveau elements while reinventing on a budget.

Located in the trendy neighbourhood of Born, the brief sought a major update that would make the most of the fire-ravaged apartment’s existing distribution and materials, yet upon completion would look dramatically different. Historical features – such as high ceilings, decorative motifs, floors, windows and doors – were preserved, rescued and highlighted wherever possible, with elements like art nouveau corner plaster motifs being totally recreated to mirror their original form.

The central area functions as a bold colour-block where the brick-like core orders the space around itself and comprises the kitchen, dining area and study. A rich terracotta colour dominates the space, including the recessed study that nestles cosily in a corner. The ceiling area above the kitchen was dropped in order to disguise a structural beam and the air conditioning ducts. In the living room, a Kettal Landscape sofa with mustard-coloured frame and mink cushions commands the space, while a planter by Ferm Living and a Handvärk lamp by Studio Floor make for the perfect finishing touches.

Beyond the brick-coloured core, walls are white to maximise light while a neutral sand-coloured valance running around the walls, doors and windows creates an inside horizon, visually widening the otherwise vertical space and making the shades of burgundy and grey pop. In the bedrooms, a gentle green affords a restorative ambience to make for the ultimate place to rest after a day of adventure.

Love this restoration? Check out the restoration of Casa Vicens, Antoni Gaudí’s first residential project in Barcelona.