INDUSTRIAL CHIC: The uber-cool warehouse transformation in Barcelona

Local interior design firm Kirsten Schwalgien Design’s remodel of Casa Bures uses steel, glass and contemporary materials to breathe new life into the ground-floor loft of this Barcelona Art Nouveau gem.

Originally dating back to 1905, Casa Bures is one of the most representative examples of Art Nouveau design in Barcelona. Built by Francesc Berenguer I Mestres, a close friend of Gaudi, the building was commissioned by a wealthy merchant at the height of the region’s textile boom. After the renovation of the full building by Estudio Vilablanch and TDB Arquitectura, the loft got an identity of its own.

 

 

A new lease on life

After being abandoned for decades, the historic building was renovated into 26 luxury apartments in the chic Eixample district. And while the Art Nouveau doors and window frames, stained glass, ceiling features and intricate mosaics were restored through much of the building, the loft has an entirely industrial character.

Originally used during the height of textile manufacturing, the ground-floor loft features big open spaces, high ceilings, concrete floors and exposed original brick walls. Formerly the warehouse and production site, this space has been transformed into an open, two-bedroom apartment.

 

 

Luxury living

The large open-plan interior has been customised to suit the residents’ needs, while giving a nod to the history of the building. Industrial materials feature throughout the space, with large, black steel-framed glass walls creating boundaries throughout the home, an untreated vintage brass dining table top and concrete flooring.

Smoked chestnut cabinets add warmth and texture to the kitchen, while dark wood also features in a home office, the bathroom and a large walk-through closet. The master bedroom benefits from this warmth, while large industrial frames open up to a private patio, contextualising the apartment again within its historic surroundings.

 

 

 

 

Source: Contemporist.com

Photography: ©Meritxell Arjalaguer