Barcelona Apartment Renovation Transforms Historic Sant Antoni Building with Custom Furniture Architecture

A residential renovation project in Barcelona's Sant Antoni neighborhood has transformed a historically significant apartment at Calle Parlament. The project involved reconfiguring a previously compartmentalized dwelling in Casa Xurigué, a building originally constructed in 1868 by master builder Pau Martorell. This structure was among the first informal constructions in Barcelona's Eixample district, predating the area's formal development. The architectural approach centered on emptying the existing layout to create a continuous, open floor plan. This was achieved through the introduction of custom-built furniture elements termed "(In)muebles," which blend characteristics of furniture and architecture. These fixed pieces serve specific domestic functions—such as shelving, seating, kitchen components, and bathing areas—while subtly defining different zones without disrupting spatial flow. The design utilizes a material palette including cream tones, pink marble, stained cedar, stainless steel, and black electrical outlets. A key challenge was addressing the building's original structural constraints, including two deep structural bays and a load-bearing wall that previously limited continuity. The renovation emphasizes the apartment's three light-filled courtyards and aims to create a sense of generous, illuminated space. The project represents a contemporary intervention within a historic building that originally featured unconventional structural and lighting solutions for its time.