Integral renovation of an apartment in Valencia,
Central-European style
2021
CASA DE CO is a small apartment located in a 1930’s typical building from Ensanche, a heritage neighborhood in Valencia. One of the main goals of the project was to create the feeling of a bigger outdoor space and relate it to the interior rooms with harmony.
Casa de CO concept design is an interpretation of the classic roof shaping from Ensanche. The curved vaults which are usually built to make the structure slab, become oversized and simplified in shape. This approach creates a dialogue between vaults, capturing light from the outside to the interior. This interaction with the outside space is essential to the Mediterranean character and provides comfort and quality for those who live in it.
The project concept is based on a set of geometric shapes that create visual effects in the space to give a feeling of airy expression, light, continuity and calm. The paths are enhanced with indirect lighting, while partitions are removed for a natural and confortable flow trough the space.
The common typology of these Ensanche residential units is based on placing the night area (bedrooms) near the public street, whereas the day area (living) is placed near the courtyard, which is much quieter and brighter. We preserve the typology by maintaining the layout, but we make the terrace larger to focus on outdoor life. That terrace becomes the heart of the house, connecting the kitchen and the living room.
The color palette is simple and warm, while the blend of natural textures adds complexity to the interior atmosphere. This material selection allows us to achieve a delicate gradient of tones, reflections and shadows depending on how natural light falls.
We try to create a constrast between the straight walls, corners, pillars and the soft curved ceiling to obtain points of tension. The ceiling vaults allow brightness coming throughout the house and to get a projection onto the ceilings in a romantic way.
We promote the values of craftmanship and traditional works by treating the walls with ragged finishes where one can see the scar of the handwork.
Casa de CO is a modest apartment, but full of character and conceptual strength.
