Designing by subtraction: renovating a flat in Barcelona

By eliminating superfluous elements, the Parramon + Tahull arquitectes studio enhances the original materials and spatial qualities of a flat in Barcelona’s Sants district.

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Plan and sections

It often happens that in contemporary renovations the architect's task is to work by subtraction: to eliminate various inconsistent elements that have been layered over the years as a result of various modifications and interventions. The aim of these projects is to rediscover original features such as floors and ceilings and recover an atmosphere that has been lost over time. This strategy was also adopted by the Catalan architectural firm Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, for the renovation of a flat in the Sants district in Barcelona. 

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Architectural highlights are the flooring, characterised by different textures and intense colours, contrasting with the white of the parts and ceilings. The original floors have been retained in almost the entire house, replaced only in some parts by white marble or porcelain stoneware surfaces. Another subtraction carried out by the architects concerns some of the partitions between rooms. Spaces become wider, brighter and more permeable. All the new furniture elements are made of exposed wood (birch plywood for the custom-made furniture and pine wood for the windows). The existing woodwork (interior and exterior) has been painted white, allowing a clear distinction between new and existing.

  • Renovation of a flat in Sants
  • Barcelona
  • Parramon + Tahull arquitectes
  • Fórneas Guida SL
  • 120 sqm
  • 2021
Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Foto Judith Casas Sayós

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021

Plan and sections

Parramon + Tahull arquitectes, renovation of a flat in Sants, Barcelona, 2021