- Project: GOB17 Apartment
- Architect: DG Estudio
- Location: Spain, Valencia
- Year: 2024
- Photography: Mariela Apollonio
A Transatlantic Transformation Rooted in Mediterranean Light
In this meticulous remodeling and interior design project, the Valencian firm DG Arquitecto, in collaboration with Gosende Navarro Studio, breathes new life into a historic apartment in the heart of Valencia’s Historical District. Hidden textures, original materials, and spatial nuances—long concealed by decades of renovations—have been thoughtfully uncovered and reinterpreted.
The project, named GOB17, was commissioned by a family relocating from New York City—known affectionately as The Big Apple—to Valencia, which The New York Times ranks among the best cities in the world to live in. Their move symbolizes not only a geographical transition but an emotional and cultural journey—from the intensity of Manhattan’s grid to the serene rhythm of the Mediterranean coast.
From New York Rationalism to Mediterranean Rhythm
GOB17 embodies the transition from the calculated rationalism of American Mid-Century architecture to the expressive warmth of Mediterranean design. The project captures this dialogue between order and spontaneity, rigidity and fluidity, precision and poetry.
The family’s search for the right home was itself a design process. Guided by DG Arquitecto and Gosende Navarro Studio, they meticulously evaluated several properties before discovering a hidden gem in a XIX-century building near the River Turia park. The apartment occupies a privileged corner position, offering dual façades and a serene interior courtyard filled with lush greenery.
Its irregular layout—full of angles, shifts, and unexpected alignments—reflects the organic nature of the city’s historic fabric. Unlike the rigid grid plan of Manhattan, designed by Commissioners Randel Jr., Morris, Rutherfurd, and De Witt to enforce light, air, and order, Valencia’s old quarter embraces asymmetry and charm.
Design Concept: Revealing Layers of History
DG Arquitecto’s approach sought not to erase history but to reveal it. The renovation process uncovered hidden layers, allowing the past and present to coexist in balance. The architects conceived two main volumetric insertions that organize and connect the spaces. These elements anchor the apartment’s flow, establishing visual continuity and rhythm while maintaining respect for the original structural fabric.
Strategically set apart from the existing masonry, the new insertions highlight the contrast between heritage and modernity, giving the historic walls space to breathe. Natural light filters between them, reinforcing the interplay between solidity and void.
Materiality & Atmosphere: Between Solidity and Warmth
Material choices narrate the project’s dual identity. The original structure—with its thick walls and timeless geometry—evokes the spirit of a Roman peristyle, where a central, light-filled space defines the home’s character. Here, matte white surfaces emphasize clarity and timelessness, counterbalancing the weight of the historic construction.
New, contemporary elements bring a sense of warmth and tactility.
-
Oak veneer is used in custom cabinetry and furniture.
-
Terracotta straw-finish flooring grounds the space in Mediterranean tradition.
-
Ivory quartzite adds refinement to the palette, pairing beautifully with brass details that reflect and amplify natural light.
The dialogue between materials is one of contrast and continuity—the heavy and the light, the rough and the smooth, the historical and the contemporary. Together they create a calm, inviting atmosphere, uniting the rational precision of modern design with the sensuality of Mediterranean living.
A Living Space That Honors Its Past
Through this renovation, DG Arquitecto and Gosende Navarro Studio have woven together Valencia’s architectural heritage with modern craftsmanship. GOB17 stands as a reflection of the city itself—historic yet forward-looking, elegant yet approachable, timeless yet alive.
By celebrating material authenticity, spatial rhythm, and Mediterranean light, the project transforms an ordinary apartment into an urban sanctuary—a serene home for a family whose story bridges continents.
