The JAO Arquitectura office has carried out a comprehensive transformation of the 189-square-metre dwelling. The flat is located in Granada, and its new design departs from the typical 1970s layout with a narrow corridor and a series of enclosed rooms. The architects proposed a new organisation of the space based on fluidity and intermingling of functions.
The flat is located in a 1979 building and is close to the historic centre of Granada. Although the location provides tranquillity and views of the Alhambra, the Sacromonte and the Sierra Nevada mountains, its original layout reflected the typical solutions of a bygone era. The architects at JAO Arquitectura removed all partition walls, leaving only plumbing risers and windows. On this basis, a new order was created in which the structural constraints became the starting point for creating a flexible, open interior.
The investors, who had previously lived in a number of different locations, were looking for a space capable of combining memories of the past with a new phase of life. The project was therefore conceived as a narrative in which every passage and every room is a piece of a shared story. The idea of ‘interconnected spaces’ creates a fluid layout, allowing for free movement and a variety of interior uses.
The irregular marble floor, textural walls and soft light turn the moment of entering the flat into a sensual ritual. The striking hallway provides an intermediate space between the living area and the kitchen. The low ceiling and the vaulted ceiling painted in deep blue change the rhythm of the interior, while at the same time serving a practical function by accommodating, among other things, storage space.
A new garden was created from the former enclosed terrace. It is now a green retreat. Shimmering tiles, vegetation and reflected light create a calm, relaxing interior that frames the view of the city while isolating it from its hustle and bustle. For the owners, it was a dream come true to have direct contact with nature within the confines of the flat.
The design focuses on creating an overall sense of harmony. The living-dining area was finished with oak panels that conceal shelves and subtly mark the boundary with the private area. Light filtering in from the garden and a muted colour scheme contribute to a calm, welcoming atmosphere.
The modified Granada flat is no longer a collection of separate rooms, but a coherent architectural story. Every detail, texture and reflection of light create a common storyline here.
Design: JAO Arquitectura
Photography: Juanan Barros
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