Vora Arquitectura: GG apartment

The studio's renovation of an apartment unravels the space's multiple layers of time and use, establishing spatial hierarchy through different mosaic floors and large wooden windows.

Studio Vora Arquitectura has completed the redesign of an apartment in Barcelona. The space had overlapping stages where several uses over had accumulated multiple layers of time. At first glance, one could feel a strange and blurred atmosphere. However, beyond this confusion could be seen the power of the building's original defining features: a sequence of linked spaces separated by a powerful rhythm of bearing walls. There is also a clear distinction of spatial hierarchy through different mosaic floors and large wooden windows.

The refurbishment makes the most of the existing elements, such as the urban fabric, which is a accumulation of different historical times. These different eras contaminate each other in a complex and ambiguous whole. Although the existing structure was not exceptional in its historical or heritage value, it was perfectly re-usable and attractive. This led to a strategy of reuse and transformation, and this process led to new functional spaces framed with wooden boxes.

The architects started by stripping the walls and ceilings until reaching essential elements that define the space. The walls were then cleaned while preserving traces, marks, layers of paint. Structural reinforcements, cracks and "critical" replacements were facilitated, and the last step was colour homogenization and optimization of natural light.

Vora Arquitectura, <em>CG Apartment</em> renovation, Barcelona — Vora Arquitectura, *CG Apartment* renovation, Barcelona

The additions include substructural wood studs on the outside and self-enclosed modules (boxes) containing service spaces. The facilities are strategically concentrated in the gaps between "boxes". These were finished with a glaze chromatically matching the containing space.

Vora Arquitectura: GG apartment
Surface area: 120 square metres
Construction start: February 2011
Construction completion: October 2011
Project architect: Vora Arquitectura (Pere Buil, Toni Riba)
Building coordination architect: Vora Arquitectura (Toni Riba)
Project team: Arnau Boronat, Ana Silva, Carolina Silva
Contractor: Fórneas Guida s.l.

Vora Arquitectura: GG apartment

The studio's renovation of an apartment unravels the space's multiple layers of time and use, establishing spatial hierarchy through different mosaic floors and large wooden windows.

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