SPANISH REVIVAL
A HISTORIC APARTMENT GETS A NEW LEASE OF LIFE WITH AN INTERIOR THAT CELEBRATES THE BEAUTIFUL PATINA OF ITS STORIED SPACES
After a fulfilling career in museum and exhibition design, Alexandra Nodes wanted a change of scene, and going back to her familial roots in Spain seemed like the perfect idea. Together with her husband and their daughter, the family moved from London to Barcelona, where they found their new home in the lively Eixample district. Nodes is the founder of Alex Carro, a Barcelona-based skincare brand that carries sustainably produced products that can be combined to simplify your beauty routine; her products use only nature-derived ingredients such as essential oils and plant extracts. In her home, this sustainable ethos is applied to the careful restoration of its historic details.
“PRESERVATION DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN KEEPING IT ALL, BUT KEEPING THE SPIRIT AND CONTINUING THE HISTORY OF A PLACE”
A NEW PURPOSE
Although the apartment was in a derelict state, the couple saw much promise within its storied spaces. Housed in a Neoclassical-style building from the 1940s, most of its walls were covered in murals that depicted bucolic landscapes and historic sites of Barcelona, such as the enchanting Labyrinth Park of Horta, one of the city’s oldest gardens. Other original elements include the geometric detailing inspired by the Art Deco era most evident in the kitchen, along with doors and windows that date back to the apartment’s early beginnings. The owners enlisted interior architect Georg Kayser of GK Kayser Studio to preserve the apartment’s historic details, while furnishing it to fit the needs of a young family. They wanted a glamorous interior that would provide plenty of room for entertaining as well as cosy spaces for family bonding. As the couple both work from home, they needed calm and conducive areas that could function as focus zones.
Much work had to be done, given the previous state of the home. “With its triangular distribution and lack of exterior windows, it was quite difficult to redistribute the apartment,” admits Kayser. Most of the rooms fell into disuse and the floor tiles were partially damaged. A mezzanine was inserted into the central hall and the windows were closed up by the former owners, making the apartment dark and unwelcoming. Kayser quickly realised the apartment had to be spatially reconfigured to adapt to its owners’ needs. “Preservation does not necessarily mean keeping it all, but keeping the spirit and continuing the history of a place,” says the architect. To improve the layout of the apartment, the mezzanine had to be partially removed. New walls were created and windows and full-length glass doors were added to bring back the natural light indoors and expand the sense of space.
HISTORIC SOUL
Above all, the apartment’s most unique details had to be preserved. These include the precious wall murals and mouldings on the ceiling, along with the historic floor tiles that were re-aligned to match the new white oak flooring. Where possible, the original windows, doors and
door handles were kept and restored. Brass trimming on the lacquered wood cabinetry, door knobs and doors give the apartment its glamorous edge while paying tribute to its Art Deco influence. To keep the modern additions minimal and unobtrusive, the studio designed custom-made furniture and built-in cabinetry specially for this home. Take for instance, the bookshelves in the drawing room, which features back-lit glass panels that bathe the library area in a golden glow. One of the most outstanding bespoke features is the 4.5 metre kitchen island, which is the centrepiece of the openplan dining and kitchen area. On a sunny day, this lofty area is flooded with natural light; it’s of little surprise that this has become one of the family’s favourite spaces. These new furnishings are paired with vintage pieces to complement the homely ambience. “I like to combine the old with the modern, as it gives a place a sense of being lived in and having evolved,” says Kayser. Mid-century Modern icons such as the Barcelona chair by Mies van der Rohe complement contemporary pieces such as the Vitra sofas and Gubi dining chairs.
BEAUTIFUL MEDLEY
A verdant array of plants can be found throughout the home, adding a lively dimension to the interior; most noticeably by the windows, where the greenery complements the bucolic wall murals while taking in the abundant sunlight. It’s also a fitting tribute to the botanical origins of Node’s beauty brand, which was inspired by her childhood memories of summertime in Galicia. Colour is as pertinent to this project. “The feel for a room can totally change by introducing a colour,” says Kayser. A chief example is the formal sitting room. Its dramatic dark grey walls are offset by the contrasting mustard sofa and white armchairs, and an iridescent chandelier. The result is a home that is at once contemporary, cosy and rich with history. “I am not a big fan of wallpapers, nor to figurative textures,” confesses the architect. Looking at this home however, he’s very pleased that the wall frescoes could lend a romantic touch to the interior. “We designed the project to create a vivid dialogue between old and new,” he says. “It respects the original architecture but at the same time it has become a stage for contemporary living.”