House in Ciutat Vella

The house in Ciutat Vella is situated in a 19^th century property in the historic centre of Valencia and has a built-up area of 294 m². Due to the age and previous condition of the building, this project was less of a renovation and more of a full interior restoration.

From the very beginning, our aim was to preserve the character and essence of the house. We did not seek to create a ‘modern’ aesthetic but rather a unique, comfortable and elegant home.  A home which would showcase the historical character of the original building, while adding modern-day facilities and conveniences.

With regard to the overall functional layout of the house, the more ‘public’ spaces were located in the area connected to the entrance. Here, we find two studies and a formal dining room which also serves as a meeting room, where the owners can carry out their professional activities. The more private part of the house is separated from this area by a large restored door, which provides the family with intimacy in their day-to-day lives. This space contains the kitchen-diner, living room, bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry areas.

Given the house’s short external façade, our main aim was to maximise natural light and we opted for an open-plan space for the kitchen and main living room. The two rooms fuse into one, illuminated by the natural morning light coming from the courtyard, which also serves as a visual backdrop and spatial extension of the kitchen, and the evening light from the living room. A panel of glass panes fitted to the wall can be positioned in different ways to separate the parts of the space, providing a mobile compartmentation of the kitchen and living room.

With regard to the materiality of the intervention, the original brick walls and load-bearing pillars were showcased, leaving them exposed and highlighting them with artificial lighting.

All of the doors in the house are original and have been restored and lacquered to allow them to be reused in the new layout of the rooms.