- Project: Apartment in Paseo San Juan
- Architect: YLAB Architects
- Location: Spain, Barcelona
- Year: 2024
- Area: 200 m2
- Photography: Santiago Garcés & YLAB Architects
Restoring Modernism in Barcelona’s Heart
Nestled within a 19th-century modernist apartment building on Budapest’s bustling Paseo San Juan in Barcelona, this apartment renovation by YLAB Architects revives a historic dwelling while injecting a contemporary layer of comfort and elegance. The clients—an Australian couple enamored with Barcelona—tasked the architects to transform a long-neglected flat into a gracious home suited for entertaining and everyday living.
The challenge: preserve protected heritage elements like the Nolla mosaic flooring and decorative ceilings, while reconfiguring the layout to deliver modern circulation, privacy, and day-to-day functionality.
Spatial Reconfiguration & Program
YLAB split the apartment into two distinct zones flanking the entrance vestibule:
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On one side: social and guest areas—living, dining, kitchen—that open onto the balcony and courtyard views
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On the other side: a private suite functioning as a self-contained apartment, with bedrooms, bathroom, dressing space
This dual arrangement allows hosting and personal retreat simultaneously.
Original stained glass windows were restored in the entry vestibule, setting a tone of heritage within the reimagined whole. A dark brown lacquered carpentry element—baseboards and door/window frames—threads continuously through both wings, creating visual unity and perceptual flow.
Material & Finish Strategy
YLAB opted for a refined and restrained palette that celebrates both old and new:
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Bauwerk lime paints in desaturated tones echo the chromatic variety of Nolla tiles
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Custom lacquered furniture in semi-satin finishes match wall tones, reinforcing continuity
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Dark lacquer carpentry and trim frame spaces and counterbalance light surfaces
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Large Laminam Calacatta Michelangelo slabs (soft touch finish) are used in kitchen counters, bathroom walls, sinks, and shower walls
Each material was chosen for durability, tactility, and its ability to harmonize with the preserved mosaic and ceilings.
Light, Detailing & Experience
Light plays a central role here: generous glazing, reflective surfaces, and subtle contrast amplify brightness in the deeper interior zones. The connecting dark trim element not only links rooms but also creates gentle moments of framed transitions and spatial rhythm.
In the en-suite bedroom, a plush upholstered bed is paired with built-in dark lacquer cabinets and discreet indirect lighting. A glass partition defines the study nook. The guest area opens toward the city balcony and rear courtyard, with the kitchen and living rooms unified in an open layout anchored by a suspended island.
Bathrooms feature mirror-faced storage, fluted glass dividers, and wall-mounted bathtubs that seem to float. The interior feels simultaneously elegant, warm, and precise.
Balancing Heritage & Modern Comfort
The renovation carefully respects the building’s protected status. Original windows were replaced with high-performance wood carpentry (Roi), maintaining visual language while improving thermal and acoustic insulation. Air conditioning ducts were routed through existing door gaps and slim ceilings; lighting and control systems were integrated with minimal disruption to heritage detailing.
YLAB’s solution achieves a precise balance—heritage preservation, modern amenity, and exquisite detailing all coexisting in harmony.
Plan
