Apartment Renovation Exposes A Rich History Captured In Layers Of Transformation
In a world so focused on change, on finding the next great trend and on looking forward, it’s refreshing to also see that sometimes we also like to look back and to rediscover our past. That being said, we’re really excited to show you today an apartment renovation with a very cool design strategy. The apartment we’re talking about is located in Valencia, Spain, in a building that dates back to the early 20th century.
The renovation took place in 2017 and was done by Roberto di Donato Architecture. In the period previous to the project, the building stayed abandoned for several years until it became an empty shell overcome by the passage of time. The architect saw hope and potential and what to others seemed like a lost cause looked to him like a blank canvas waiting to be painted.
In other words, an empty shell meant lots of challenges but also lots of opportunities waiting to be explored. The goal was not to transform the apartment beyond recognition but to make suitable for modern living while preserving its original character as much as possible. In fact, the architect went a little beyond all that and also managed to uncover parts of the apartment’s history, putting all the layers on display and enhancing all these features with the help of a few contemporary additions.
The new interior design of the space is a wonderful blend of old and new elements with a big emphasis on the old and a careful selection of materials and forms intended to complement the exposed brick walls, the freshly uncovered and restored roof structure as well as the polished concrete flooring. One of the main goals of the renovation process was to create a fluid and seamless connection between the old and the new features.
The apartment now has a distinct modern appearance which was achieved by leaving the existing structure almost undisturbed. Only essential new features were added and any existing imperfections were preserved and even highlighted by the new decor. A new division of spaces was also created. The day and night zones are separated not by walls but by a set of unconventional partition modules which double as wardrobes in the bedroom.
Both the verticality and the horizontal lines of the apartment were accentuated, each time using distinct features such as the tall wooden wardrobe partitions, the full-height white curtains in the bedroom, the tall ladder or the extra long kitchen worktop or the white plaster pedestal. This ensures a beautiful continuity between the spaces and also helps to highlight all the imperfections and the layers of transformation/ the history of the space.
There are lots of cool features and details worthy of mention but a few stand out and have a dramatic impact on the entire apartment. This obviously includes all the exposed walls which define not only the living spaces but also the bedroom and even the bathroom. They provide a charming shell for all the new features.