MUNTANER | Scala Studio

“A haven of peace in the midst of the city's bustle.” This is the way we would define the uniqueness of this project.

When the client first contacted us and after seeing this flat, we were instantly fascinated by its architecture: the high ceilings, the moldings, the large windows and the outdoor area immediately made our work much easier since the container itself was already spectacular.

We usually find several types of clients when we work, some of them prefer to delegate everything to us, while others prefer to be involved in the whole creative process. In this case, the client had very clear ideas and, together, we started the whole creative endeavor .

What was clear from the beginning was that the architecture of the building itself would be used to distinguish the two main areas of the house. The most social area is located inside the main house, while the most intimate area is found in the shed in the garden.

Referring to the space of the main house, high-quality fine materials were used, such as the floor, which is wooden parquet rescued from an old Croatian sawmill from the 60s and that had never been placed anywhere before. At all times we wished to maintain the romantic idea of using materials and elements which had a purpose of being as well as having their own story to tell. This is why it was also clear from the very beginning that stainless steel would be used for the surface finishings of the kitchen. This material was chosen because the client works in the catering industry, and was an affectionate nod to an important part of his day to day life.

Regarding the most intimate part of the home, it can be found in the shed, located in the garden. This space was chosen for the bedrooms, as it is located in a more sheltered and gathered area. The floor was left with polished concrete, and wood was the material used for the wardrobe, the shelves and the bathroom furniture in order to generate a warm space. For this space, Mediterranean aesthetics were chosen as a common thread chosen so as to bring peace and calmness to this area intended entirely for resting.

Photography: José Hevia

Lead architect: Antonio Spalleta