In the heart of Madrid, Gon Architects reinvent an 80 sqm duplex, turning a staircase into a room

In an 80-square-meter apartment located in a 1900 building in Madrid, organized as a duplex, gon architects carry out a complete spatial renovation to accommodate the new needs and lifestyle of the owner, bringing new character to the spaces thanks to the reinterpretation of the idea of vertical connection between the two levels of the house. In fact, the configuration of the new staircase is the true core of the intervention: stairs are no longer a mere spatial connector, but a tool with multiple functions, as well as an element with a strong aesthetic presence. Such scenic protagonist and flow generator connects visually, chromatically and materially, the outdoor space of the terrace on the lower level to the landing on the upper floor, where the most intimate areas are located, passing through the most lively spaces of domesticity, all in an extremely compact longitudinal plan.

In detail, the staircase is moved to the east front of the apartment, opposite to the original position, thus entailing the need to mirror the opening leading upstairs, and consequently the general layout. If the first steps remain monolithic, anchored to a storage unit that extends for the entire length of the wall, the staircase proceeds towards the upper level dematerializing, the structure becomes suspended, the steps turn into shelves, and the terracotta color, already present in the terrace flooring, extends upwards landing on the second floor in a kind of transitional space, flexible in its use while granting access to the bedroom and bathroom.

The presence at each level of full-height mirrors is a further distinguishing element, expanding the rooms and blurring the point of intersection between intimate and social spaces.
The bold hues of the furniture and the choice of lighting pieces with recognizable designs, such as the two PH 5 pendant lamps by Louis Poulsen on the dining table or the Dipping Light by Marset on the upper floor, further revitalize the apartment by defining its new contemporary look.