House 64 is a project by OOIIO Architecture, which renovated a small flat in Madrid, located in a 1960 block of flats. The architects completely transformed the interior, creating a space full of light, colour and lightness. The refurbishment reflects the transformation that has taken place over the decades in the Spanish capital.
Housing transformation on the outskirts of Madrid
At the time the building was constructed, thousands of people from the provinces were arriving in Madrid in search of work and better living conditions. Families with many children often lived in small flats, and a single wage was enough to support them. Nine people lived in the 71sq m unit described here. A narrow corridor led into tiny bedrooms with only room for a bed. The common area was a small dining room and the children spent time outside. One bathroom served all the household members, and a sofa in the living room turned into an extra bed at night. Today, the area around the block is part of the city’s central zone. The motorway that used to run right in front of the building has been covered by a park, and the building has been given a lift. Only two people now live in the flat. Madrid, once culturally homogeneous, has become a meeting place for people from all over the world.
Living in Madrid – the new layout
64 years after the building was constructed, the architects decided to make radical changes. To do so, they completely removed the original layout, creating an open interior, well-lit and airy thanks to the windows facing the two facades. The new organisation is based on the precise arrangement of elements and the juxtaposition of colours, textures and materials. Each wall has a different character and has been treated as part of a larger composition. The interior resembles a three-dimensional collage, in which not only the colours, but also the light, the reflections and the way in which the spaces intermingle are important.
Materials, colours and details
Furniture and furnishings are an integral part of the design. Products from brands such as Aldex, Ceramica Ferres, Cosentino, Delamora, Grespania, HAY, Imex, JUNG, Kave Home, Kyrya, Maisons du Monde, Prissmacer, Sanycces, Sargadelos, Serge Mouille, Schiuma Post Design, The Masie and Westwing were used here. The deep shade of the blue sofa coordinates with the wavy metal wall placed above a triangular cabinet in the same colour. The golden curtain separating the living room from the bedroom follows the rhythm of the yellow tiles on the adjacent wall. A dark green sideboard introduces contrast, while a clay lamp and yellow light fixture accentuate the warm tones of the wood and blue kitchen worktop.
Madrid flat – a new reality in an old building
After the conversion, the flat was given a completely new expression and identity. The former cramped space has been transformed into an open, modern home where colour, light and proportions form a very harmonious team. House 64 has become a metaphor for modern Madrid – the city has come a long way from humble beginnings to an energetic, cosmopolitan reality.
Project: OOIIO Architecture
Authors: Joaquín Millán Villamuelas, Federica Aridon Mamolar
Project location: Carabanchel, Madrid, Spain
Year of construction: 2024
Total area: 71 sq m.
Photography: Javier de Paz
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