NOT A STUDIO opens up century-old Barcelona apartment with color-coded structure

NOT A STUDIO, a Barcelona-based firm, has finalized the renovation of Monterols, a 36-square-meter apartment featuring a 15-square-meter mezzanine within a 1919 building located in the Sarrià neighborhood. The design removes years of partitions to restore the original space and accentuate the nearly five-meter ceiling height. Structural elements such as exposed beams and columns are painted in blue, green, and yellow, serving as visual guides for the open layout. A blue arched light fixture above the kitchen, green supports, and light cabinetry complement the exposed masonry, plywood, stainless steel, and tiles. Previously, the apartment contained four rooms, a kitchen, dining area, and a terrace bathroom, but the redesign unifies the space, enhancing its verticality and adapting it for modern living while honoring its history.