Loft & Studio for Marcel | MH.AP

An abandoned 100m2 storage space in a basement turned into a loft & studio.

Marcel’s loft is a project that develops around two patios: a bigger one with loads of light and a smaller patio that ensures good crossed natural ventilation throughout the space.

Parallel to the big patio measuring 13'5mx4m, the living space and rooms are openly placed to profit from natural light. A shed used to take half of the patio’s area, but to gain more natural light aroung the dinning area, it’s reduced enough to place Marcel’s bedroom, overlooking the outdoor shower, planters and exotic plants (strategically placed to profit from an outdoor spot that had no direct sunlight).

There are no big new formal gestures, only at the entrance a stair-like closet takes advantage of an otherwise weird corner. The structure of the building is made out of big thick old ’concrete’ walls (with huge stones and bad cement), that gives alot of thermal inertia to the interior, mantaining a very comfortable temperature throughout the year.

The slabs, originally built with Catalan vaults in the 50’s, is only painted, exposing its contextual beauty. A concrete bench wraps the living room and the custom made plywood + Formica kitchen is placed in the center, where everyday life takes place. Industrial-oak-flooring was chosen for its aesthetic coherence with the existing form -and to walk barefoot.

Next to the entrance, the bathroom and the studio are organised around the secondary patio. Darkness is embraced by compressing and lowering the ceiling, then adding Farrow & Balls Red Earth to enhance the transition between spaces.

Both courtyards are completely rebuilt to ensure a good drainage. For the main patio, white hexagonal mosaic from an old ceramic factory was used to increase light reflexion. These tiny mosaics required a flexible netting to make bigger tiles, a process done in our Studio.

Photography: Luis Diaz Diaz