An Old Apartment From 1936 Updated With A Modern Aesthetic

Just because a building is old doesn’t mean it’s necessarily outdated or obsolete. Old structures have a lot of character and a history behind them which can’t be replaced by anything else. We love the idea of taking an old house and updating it but with respect for its past rather than a desire to start from scratch.

The exposed brick section of this wall was turned into a decorative detail
The exposed brick section of this wall was turned into a decorative detail

This apartment from Barcelona, Spain is situated in a building that dates back to 1936 yet it looks quite modern. That’s because in 2021 studio MZAM worked on the renovation of this entire place.

A small bar attached to the wall acts as a divider between the kitchen and the living area
A small bar attached to the wall acts as a divider between the kitchen and the living area
The new interior design shows a preference for simple and honest materials with warm textures
The new interior design shows a preference for simple and honest materials with warm textures

The strategy here was to keep all the architectural and design elements worth preserving and to integrate a bunch of the original elements into the new design. Features like the exposed brick walls or the ceiling are remnants of the past and they add a lot of charm to this place. To all of these pre-existing features the designers added a bunch of new features creating a mélange of styles. 

Some of the interior walls have been removed during the renovation, opening up the social areas
Some of the interior walls have been removed during the renovation, opening up the social areas

They also reorganized the overall layout of the apartment, dividing into a day area and a night zone. At the same time, the division of these spaces was done through furniture and decorations rather than vertical dividers. The result is a more open and bright interior with a serene ambiance. 

The new design shows respect for the apartment's original aesthetic but also has a chic and modern look
The new design shows respect for the apartment’s original aesthetic but also has a chic and modern look
The original ceiling has become one of the focal points for the entire apartment
The original ceiling has become one of the focal points for the entire apartment
The apartment has two bedrooms, each with its own balcony
The apartment has two bedrooms, each with its own balcony