Located on the top floor of a multi-family housing building in Barcelona’s Raval neighbourhood, the penthouse has access from the centre to a floor strangled by a lightwell that divides the house into two separate spaces: the first one, a street-facing room, and the second one, a four-times larger space divided by a series of parallel walls, derived from a structural rehabilitation.
Courtesy of P-M-A-A
The arcaded back façade serves as an endowment that provides a logical structure to the project. The geometrical repetition of the consecutive and dividing load-bearing walls results in a unique space that conceptually preserves its original limits. Around the structure, functionality exceeds the physical limits, either surrounding it or just bumping into it. The sofa, the bathtub, the bedroom and the shower, as well as the dressing area, find their own place on a fluffy green fitted carpet.
Courtesy of P-M-A-A
A mirrored cubicle articulates the two areas. The mirrors turn the intimacy of the toilet room into infinite, which means that the toilet room becomes intimate within the infinity of reflections.
Courtesy of P-M-A-A
The street-facing room becomes the public space of the house with a wide table. The movable elements allow that cooking, eating, sitting and hosting have a place around the table.
Courtesy of P-M-A-A
The renovation works started in 2015. A period of two years permitted an artisanal process of trial and error that had its mishaps on the way.
Courtesy of P-M-A-A
Courtesy of P-M-A-A
Project Info
Architects: P-M-A-A
Area: 1065 ft²
Year: 2017
Country: Barcelona, Spain
Manufacturers: Ceràmica Cumella, Davide Groppi, Hilca Carpet (natural wool), P-M-A-A, Vola
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.