Nil Dos House | Valentí Albareda

Valentí Albareda

In collaboration with Selena Caamaño

We found a ground floor located in the center of the neighborhood of Gràcia that used to be a warehouse of a small construction company.

This was the origin of the space that we had to turn into housing.

The main difficulties were the interior compartmentalization, the existence of a small attic plus stairs, and especially the lack of light due to the small openings and elongate shape of the plot.

The existence of a fully covered courtyard in the end of the premises was initially a handicap but could be overcome and greatly enhance the project.

Our main objective was to create a home where light was the main element and the backyard was incorporated into its interior, bringing a small oasis of vegetation in the heart of the city and the House itself.

We looked for a very specific functional program taking advantage of the great heights we had.

Open attics seemed the best way to maximize the usable space without constraining and cramping the flat.

Pine wood attics became furniture and the original materials of the flat were left uncovered to give them the main focus of the project.

In addition, the incorporation of the white color enhanced all these elements creating a balance and looking for a harmony between the different materials, helping the light bounce from one end of the dwelling to the other.

The exterior was also left with raw materials, just white painted to make the green of the vegetation pop and be a feature that draws the eye to the exterior.

The most important room of the House gets a great improvement with the new opening towards the patio. Opening the whole towards the patio and bring light towards the inside.

The design of the iron swivel door had to be the most unique element of the house and we really got it, with an impressive, elegant frame, giving way to the plant oasis.

The steel as a structural material is repeated all over the project either in raw or powder coated in white.

All furniture, doors, structures, etc. was custom designed especially for the house.

The maximum detail was sought in each element we designed keeping in mind similar materials and finishes to bring all the house together.