In Madrid, a house built in 1934 stood abandoned and dilapidated for many years. When the modernist building seemed beyond saving, architects Ana Arana and Enrique Ventosa from the PLUTARCO studio stepped in. The couple found the building in very poor technical condition, offering little hope, but thanks to their determination and ingenuity, they managed to revive the nearly century-old property. The interiors were created from scratch and filled with a veritable feast of intense colours, expressive materials, unusual furniture and original accessories. The old house in Spain has been saved and is once again bustling with life.
An old house in Spain with a new lease of life
All work on the project began with an analysis of the period in which the building was constructed. The year 1934 was a time of intense development of modernist villas in many parts of the world, so the architects looked at other projects from this era to better understand the architectural context of the Madrid house. The building itself was found to be in a far from ideal condition. It had been abandoned for years, and numerous unsuccessful alterations had been made to the interior. The floors even appeared halfway up the windows. The designers therefore treated the existing structure as a blank canvas and started designing almost from scratch. The house has an impressive 376 square metres of floor space and an additional 112 square metres of two courtyards. One of them takes the form of a private street, the other is a spacious internal patio, rarely found in Madrid’s buildings. This configuration provided great freedom of arrangement and a sense of true intimacy in a huge metropolis.
Living space under the vaults
The new layout of the living area in this old house was designed with peace and comfort in mind. The living room is located between the two courtyards mentioned above, giving the interior a peaceful atmosphere and access to natural light from two sides. The ceilings are of great importance here. The architects opted for vaults inspired by the architecture of the 1930s. Their surface is covered with a shiny material that enhances light reflections. The living room features a soft Arflex sofa, and the interior is complemented by contemporary accents, including a lamp designed by Ingo Maurer and a work by Ivan Franco. At first glance, it resembles a photograph, but it was created by hand using a pencil. This unexpected effect was one of the elements that the designers particularly liked.
A dining room inspired by architecture
The dining room features clear references to modernist designs from the first half of the 20th century. The vaulted ceiling with decorative cornices is reminiscent of Robert Mallet-Stevens’ Villa Cavrois. In turn, the combination of different types of marble on the stairs and balustrade is reminiscent of the entrances to Italian villas designed in the 1930s by Pier Portaluppi. The dining room furniture was designed by the architects themselves. The chairs were named Escote because of their distinctive form. The designers wanted the seats to encourage long conversations at the table. The dining room functions as a place for meetings and long dinners, so the direct passage to the living room allows for various scenarios for using this space.
An important feature of the house is a movable screen. During the day, it acts as a tiled wall, and when turned, it reveals a mirrored surface that changes the atmosphere of the interior. Behind it is a work by artist Xevi Soly from the Alzueta gallery.
An old house in Spain – a colourful kitchen and garden
The combination of different materials plays a special role in the kitchen. The design was created around five main materials. Two types of wood are used here: cherry with a warm red hue and pine stained a deep navy blue. The focal point is an island made of specially prepared terrazzo. The floor, made of a different variety of this material, is reminiscent of Milanese portals, and the walls are covered with blue tiles with red grout. The colour red appears sparingly in the interiors. The architects describe this technique as “unexpected red”, i.e. an unexpected accent. The rest of the palette remains more subdued. The light blue evokes associations with the sky and visually penetrates the garden. The effect is enhanced by the shiny blue ceiling.
The greenery around the house creates a small microclimate. Virginia creeper has been planted on the wall, which turns red in autumn and sprouts leaves again in spring. It is accompanied by evergreen and seasonal species, thanks to which the garden changes with the seasons. This part of the property also features a green mosaic swimming pool, striped tile flooring and a barbecue area finished with small blue tiles.
Private floor
The most intimate part of the house is located on the upper floor. A small study leads to a dressing room inspired by a Japanese temple. The conical ceiling and wooden panels with a rhythmic lattice give this place a calm rhythm. The owners’ bedroom is decorated in dark tones. The vaulted ceiling in midnight blue conceals built-in light points resembling stars. The surface also features a hand-painted constellation by Jesús Colmenero. The interior is filled with a combination of materials: green-stained wood, round glass blocks and arched doors leading to the bathroom. The theme of curves appears throughout the house. Delicate arches soften the geometry of the rooms and eliminate sharp angles. In the bathroom, rounded partitions separate the shower and toilet. The terrazzo floor and the washbasin cabinet made of Chinese marble and elm root are the crowning glory of the entire project.
An old house in Spain and a difficult renovation
The biggest challenge in the entire investment turned out to be the condition of the house’s structure. During the work, it was discovered that many of the ceilings were on the verge of collapse and the building itself required thorough reinforcement. Bringing it to a safe condition required a great deal of effort from the designers and contractors. Today, the former abandoned property from 1934 once again functions as a vibrant and beautiful space.
Design: Plutarco
Location: Madrid
Photographs: GermánSaiz
See also:Spain | Single-family house | Modernism|Eclecticism|Interiors|whiteMAD on Instagram
