Joan Casals Pañella and Jose Luis Cisneros Bardolet of Agora Arquitectura renovated an old 1935 apartment in the Poble Sec port district, one of the first mid-nineteenth-century urbanized extensions built outside the city’s historic walls. In a space of only 45 square meters, the project is a reinterpretation of the typical compartmental plants from the Thirties.

Starting from a reflection on contemporary living, made up of open spaces and hybrid functional programs, the architects have valued the original meaning of service areas. The result is an open house that contains closed spaces. Every wall except one have been replaced by lower and lighter partitions. The new plant guarantees an outdoor terrace space to each living environment, making a clear distinction between public and private.