Architectural Cases

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.

Frank Gehry, a recipient of the prestigious Pritzker Prize, is renowned for his sculptural and deconstructivist approach to architecture, a style that leaves an unmistakable mark on urban landscapes. Despite the relatively few structures he has completed in New York City, each one stands as a prominent example of his distinctive vision. Among his notable works in the city are the sail-like IAC Building in Chelsea, which heralded his initial significant presence, and 8 Spruce Street, his groundbreaking skyscraper that dramatically reshaped the Lower Manhattan skyline. Additionally, the Condé Nast Cafeteria in Times Square holds a special place as his very first project in the city, paving the way for his later, larger-scale endeavors.

For many years, securing major commissions in New York City proved challenging for Gehry, with numerous proposals, including a twisted skyscraper for the New York Times headquarters and a titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum for the East River, failing to materialize. His persistence eventually paid off with the opportunity to design the Condé Nast Cafeteria in 2000, a project initiated by his friend S.I. Newhouse Jr. This cafeteria, located on the fourth floor of 4 Times Square, introduced Gehry's unique aesthetic to the city with its towering glass partitions, twisting titanium columns, vibrant orange booths, and yellow tabletops, creating a moody and sculptural dining environment exclusively for staff. This initial success laid the groundwork for his future contributions to the city's architectural fabric.

Gehry's subsequent New York City projects continued to push the boundaries of design. The IAC Building, completed in 2007 at 555 West 18th Street, stands as his first full office building in the city and his first entirely constructed from glass. Its 10 stories evoke the image of billowing sails, with full-height glass windows that subtly shift from clear to opaque at each floor's edge, creating a dynamic visual effect. Critically acclaimed by architects, its facade transforms with the changing light, appearing as a unified white sculpture on overcast days and a fragmented, reflective masterpiece under clear skies. Following this, the 8 Spruce Street tower, unveiled in 2011 in Lower Manhattan, marked Gehry's debut into skyscraper design. Standing at 870 feet with 76 stories, it was once the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere. Its most striking feature is the undulating stainless-steel facade, which shimmers above the historic buildings of City Hall and the Woolworth Building, offering a captivating interplay of light and shadow that constantly alters the building's appearance throughout the day. This careful consideration of context and visual impact underlines Gehry's profound influence on contemporary urban architecture.

Frank Gehry's contributions to New York City's architecture demonstrate that innovation and artistic expression can coexist harmoniously with the urban environment. His buildings are not merely structures but dynamic sculptures that engage with their surroundings, inspiring awe and inviting contemplation. They serve as a testament to the power of design to elevate the human experience, challenging conventional perceptions and fostering a deeper appreciation for creativity in our daily lives.