Bilbao Apartment Transformed with a Blend of Mid-Century Charm and Modern Flair
Rediscovering Elegance: A Bilbao Apartment's Modern Revival
Unearthing Hidden Grandeur: Restoring the Apartment's Soul
This Bilbao residence, built approximately 60 years prior, had gradually lost its distinctive character beneath layers of successive modernizations. The new inhabitants, a young family, entrusted architects Irene Vitorica Donezar and Ane González Lara with the delicate task of peeling back these layers, aiming to reclaim the apartment's original essence and forge a harmonious, practical living environment.
Italian Influences and Mid-Century Modernism
The architects drew significant inspiration from Italian design, notably the Milan apartment of Luigi Caccia Dominioni from the 1960s. This influence is evident in the subtle yet striking geometric accents woven throughout the renovated interiors, adding a touch of sophisticated flair. Donezar and Lara meticulously preserved and integrated various original mid-century elements, such as bespoke wooden details, verdant Macael marble countertops, and artistic window frames, ensuring these historical components were celebrated and given new purpose.
The Unfolding Narrative of Renovation
Irene Donezar emphasized that their interventions were designed to complement, rather than dominate, the existing architecture, fostering a sense of organic continuity. An unexpected discovery during the renovation—a pristine herringbone parquet floor hidden beneath old carpeting throughout the entire apartment—prompted a significant shift in their initial plans. This fortuitous find led them to reconsider their initial intention of removing all internal walls, opting instead to retain much of the original floor plan.
Adapting to Contemporary Lifestyles: A Thoughtful Redesign
Reflecting the typical Spanish apartment layouts of the 1960s, the original design featured a kitchen only accessible via a separate entry, with rooms branching off a lengthy corridor. The new homeowners desired to maintain the private atmosphere of the bedrooms while integrating the kitchen into a more open living and dining area. Key structural modifications included repurposing the primary bedroom and service entrance to create a functional laundry room and an additional bathroom.
Harmonizing Old and New: Furnishings and Finishes
The architects demonstrated their creative prowess by designing custom furniture pieces, including a stained-oak dining table, and unique hardware like sliding glass door pulls. They also curated an eclectic collection of vintage decor, such as a 20th-century Japanese copper vase and 1980s Murano vases in the dining area, creating a dialogue across different eras. A notable example of their resourcefulness is the green Macael marble shelf in the entryway, crafted from the apartment's old kitchen countertop, beautifully linking the past to the present.
A Palimpsest of Design: Echoes of the Past
Throughout the apartment, subtle nods to its heritage are evident. The verdant entryway and the rich, reddish oak of the door frames and kitchen cabinetry echo the apartment's initial color scheme. Garnet Zellige tiles in the main bathroom pay homage to the original brickwork. Donezar and Lara also embraced the home's inherent geometry, incorporating chamfered corners, octagonal nightstands in the bedroom, and a hexagonal mirror in the entryway. This thoughtful blend of historical reverence and geometric precision culminates in a renovation that is both refined and inviting, avoiding any sense of stiffness or clinical detachment.