Urban Revival
A CONSIDERED BLEND OF INDUSTRIAL-STYLE ELEMENTS AND RAW TEXTURES CELEBRATE THIS HOME’S HISTORIC DETAILS AND ITS RUGGED APPEAL
Industrial-style elements and raw textures celebrate this Barcelona home’s history
Looking at the colourful, light-filled interiors of this apartment in Barcelona, it’s hard to imagine it in its previous state as an old, run-down office that had seen much better days. Located in the Eixample district, the apartment features a large terrace area as well as traditional brick vaulting and other historic details that were restored to give it a sense of place.
“When designing this apartment, I took inspiration from the existing patinas, with the aim of restoring its distinctive yesteryear charm,” says Jaime Beriestain, who saw to the apartment’s redesign. The Chilean-born, Barcelona-based interior designer and his eponymous firm thus started anew to transform the once unloved space into a stylish sanctuary for the homeowner.
Textures of Time With the existing brickwork laying the groundwork for the design concept, Beriestain sought to restore the apartment while paying tribute to its past. Timeworn details were retained where possible, such as the vaulted ceiling and the brick walls, some of which were painted over to reflect the home’s contemporary new look. Other walls that had to be redone feature recreations of such burnished textures. For example, the dining area is set with a coal-like hue of anthracite in three different shades of grey applied horizontally across the walls.
The existing patinas have also influenced the colour schemes of the bedrooms and other spaces within the apartment, with furniture and artworks then selected to fit the hues. The prominent use of copper, corten steel (a metal alloy with an intentionally oxidised look), filament bulbs, raw concrete, and exposed piping add to the home’s rugged, industrial-style aesthetic, complemented by a tactile mix of materials and artworks that give its interior a more homely appeal.
To optimise the spacious outdoor area of the apartment, Beriestain chose to design the sitting area by the terrace in the style of a greenhouse—it features a glass roof and French doors that fill the space with abundant daylight. The rustic wooden tables, next to the
concrete lamp from Danish brand Menu and a sleek floor lamp, show the studied mix of old with the new. The generously-sized terrace features a lacquered iron gazebo, as well as outdoor sofas and potted plants.
Colour Play While each space within the apartment has its own colour scheme, the consistent material palette keeps the overall look cohesive. As the social hub of the home, the living area features a spectrum of rosy hues. Designed by Beriestain, the sofa in this common area is upholstered in the Colombo Coral fabric that he had created for Spanish textile company Grupo Lamadrid, alongside matching fabrics for the cushions and armchairs; a rug with a graphic print ties the look together. The bedroom on the other hand, is peppered with accents of blue which fill the monochromatic space with a serene quality.
In contrast to the lighter neutral shades in the bedrooms and common areas, Beriestain makes a bold statement in spaces such as the kitchen with a darker palette. Situated by the entrance of the home, the windowless space receives very little daylight. “I tried to turn this weakness into a strength—i gave the dark space a more cosy, warm touch with special lighting and smoky shades,” explains Beriestain. Set against black brick walls, the culinary space is decorated with a handsome mix of black granite countertops, dark wood cabinetry, and vintage furniture pieces such as the bar stools and the pendant lights.
Creative Pairings With a collector’s eye for art and design, Beriestain is fond of bringing together iconic pieces with vintage finds, bespoke furniture, and a careful curation of artworks to make each space uniquely its own. Vintage pieces, such as the Sputnik chandelier that Beriestain restored for the master bedroom, floats above the clay table lamps that he personally designed. In the living area, an engraving by Pablo Picasso is placed next to an oil painting by New York-based artist Bosco Sodi, and custom-made furniture;
while in the bathroom, antique washbasins stand next to an array of paintings by Chilean contemporary artist Fernando Prats. “Art is of key importance to this apartment, giving it rhythm and energy,” shares the designer. “The modernity of the works of art coexists in perfect harmony with the apartment’s history and their dynamism helps accentuate the different historical details.”
Surveying the completed look, Beriestain is certainly pleased with the final result: “Everything comes together naturally to form a cohesive whole.”
“THE MODERNITY OF THE WORKS OF art COEXISTS in PERFECT HARMONY WITH THE apartment’s HISTORY”