Devising our own workspace was the initial objective of this project, in which we refused to renounce open, multi-purpose areas or large windows for enjoying the natural light and views to the outside.
We found our new place on the mezzanine floor of a block of flats from the 1960s in the Eixample district of Barcelona. This type of building once housed retail premises on the ground floor, offices, businesses, workshops and warehouses on the main floor and homes further up. In our case, this completely open space was originally a textile warehouse.
When it came to planning the refurbishment, our only constraint was the reinforced concrete pillar and beam structure that divided the space into two bays, and the location of the only downpipe which could be used for the wet area.
In a bid to free up the surface as much as possible, we sought to meet the office’s needs by attaching a linear unit along the perimeter of the party wall and façade. This serves as once office, rest bench, storage space and display case for materials and mood boards. The resulting workspace is divided into two areas which correspond to the structural bays, with the help of an addition to the perimeter unit. Both spaces feature two large tables, one for individual work and another for group work and meetings.
The custom-made furniture is laminated wood with oak veneer. The tables were designed using standard size panels and a steel structure to which drawer units may be attached to separate the different workspaces. While white forms the basis of the project’s colour scheme, petrol blue was reserved for the two tables, which stand out as the main features in the two work areas, and the windows, which frame the views to the outside. The steel windows are original and have been restored with new glass panes to make the building more energy efficient.
The new studio now stands as a large open and bright space with two distinct areas which respond to different needs.
