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      Raúl Sánchez Architects adds colourful details and “kitchen cube” to Spanish home

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      Spanish studio Raúl Sánchez Architects has renovated the PSM21 house outside of Barcelona, adding an interior staircase to turn two separate apartments into one home with colourful details.

      The studio aimed to turn the properties, in the coastal town of Castelldefels, into a single 250-square-metre house that takes advantage of its sea views.
      “The connection with the views, which are striking, are paramount in the project, so the layout tries to connect all the spaces with the exterior, but without simplifying the space, creating, at the same time, a complex indoors living,” Raúl Sánchez Architects founder told Raúl Sánchez told Dezeen.
      The Spanish home was previously two separate apartmentsThe studio initially renovated the upper apartment and will begin working on the lower floor next year. To connect the two floors of the building, which previously had separate entrances, the studio added an internal staircase.
      “The new requirements of the new family did not match the existing layout,” Sánchez said.

      “The two main storeys of the house were split and had no connection, and now the new house will be one only house, with a new connection staircase.”
      A yellow entrance hall welcomes visitorsOn the upper floor, a yellow entrance hall welcomes visitors to the house and leads into an open-plan kitchen and living room.
      Here, a blue-painted volume, which the architect calls the “kitchen cube”, holds the kitchen as well as a small storage room and the internal staircase.
      The kitchen features a blue “cube”On its other side, doors lead to the floor’s three bedrooms, each of which is connected to one of the home’s two bathrooms. The bedrooms are separated from the living spaces by a hallway lined with cabinets.
      To create interest in the space, the architect worked with a number of different textures and bright colours.

      Gold-leaf wall divides renovated Barcelona apartment by Raúl Sánchez Architects

      “Most of the ambience is whitish, but there are different materials giving that whitish, from paint, to white wood, white tiles or white microcement, so the texture is always adding a different character,” Sánchez explained.
      “And then, some colour spots, highlighting, for example, the kitchen cube – which also conceals a wardrobe and the staircase, to be done in the next second stage – that organizes the circulation around it; or in the bedrooms, with a very characteristic tinted wood in unfamiliar colours for the wood, which is something I really enjoy, to use unfamiliar colours with familiar materials.”
      Colourful details decorate the homeDifferent types of metals and stones add more tactile details.
      “There are also metals, as in the doors, mixing brass and stainless steel, or stones, like the red onyx and the granite in the kitchen and island,” Sánchez said.
      “The materiality is rich in textures and colour, so the experience of the house, now from a more tactile approach, is really rich and complex.”
      Architect Raúl Sánchez worked with colourful wood in the bedroomsRaúl Sánchez Architects also aimed for the house to be energy-efficient, using heat pumps to control its tempertaure.
      “All facade walls have been treated to improve their insulation and energy performance, both in solid sections and in the new windows, while a new aerothermal system meets the climatization needs in a highly efficient manner,” Sánchez said.
      “Most of the materials come from local suppliers, reducing the carbon footprint of the construction.”
      A “sauna pavilion” overlooks the gardenWhen complete, the lower floor will contain a study space, additional leisure areas and guest accommodation.
      Outside the home, stone-clad steps lead down to a garden and pool area, while a former warehouse at the bottom of the building was turned into a “sauna pavilion”.
      Each bedroom is connected to a bathroomThe studio was named Emerging interior design studio of the year at Dezeen Awards 2022. Recently completed projects by the studio include the renovation of a Barcelona apartment with a gold-leaf wall and a townhouse with a four-storey spiral staircase.
      The photography is by José Hevia.
      Project credits:
      Architecture: Paolo Burattini, Flavia Thalisa Gütermann, Dimitris LouizosEngineering: Marés ingenierosCarpentry: Vallés carpinteríaMetal works: MetalwareAlluminium and glass works: Jaume Costa

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      Seven transparent bathrooms for households who share everything

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      In this lookbook we collect bathrooms with see-through walls, best suited to those who take a more relaxed attitude to privacy in the home.

      In most homes the bathroom is designed as a private space. But as the interiors listed below demonstrate, deciding against encasing the washroom in opaque walls can bring in natural light, act as a space-saving device or even create an unusual focal point in the home.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with sunken baths, subway tiles and double sinks.
      Photo by Yosuke OhtakeHouse in Kyoto, Japan, by 07Beach
      The bathroom inside this house in Kyoto, designed by architecture studio 07Beach, sits alongside a skylit central courtyard-like living space to give the residents the feeling of “open-air bathing”.

      “The house was designed as one big space, placing the double height living room at the centre so they can see who does what,” said the studio. “Although a curtain rail was set up in the bathroom just in case, it seems the family got used to the exposed bathroom, and still use it without a curtain.”
      Find out more about House in Kyoto ›
      Photo by Miguel de GuzmánBathyard Home, Spain, by Husos
      Madrid architecture studio Husos went further than merely making the bathroom visible in this apartment, instead removing partition walls to make it the main communal area of the home.
      “The bathyard is a space whose character can be negotiated and altered by the users by sliding transparent partitions and opening out a folding bench,” the studio said.
      Find out more about Bathyard Home ›
      Photo by Hey! CheeseCats’ Pink House, Taiwan, by KC Design Studio
      This holiday home in Taiwan was designed by KC Design Studio as a place for the owner to have fun with her three cats.
      The bathroom adjoins the cats’ playroom via a wall composed of a terrazzo plinth topped with pink glass, affording a view of what’s going on next door. For moments when additional privacy is desirable, the glass can be dimmed.
      Find out more about Cats’ Pink House ›
      Photo courtesy of Suppose Design Office (also top)House in Nagoya, Japan, by Suppose Design Office
      This house was completed by Japanese architecture studio Suppose Design Office all the way back in 2009 but is too good an example of a transparent bathroom not to be included on our list.
      The main living space looks straight through glass walls to the bathroom via a landscaped area filled with rocks and plants.
      Find out more about House in Nagoya ›
      Photo by Tomooki KengakuThe Life, Japan, by I IN
      Tokyo studio I IN overhauled an apartment for Japanese developer Smarg in an attempt to change perceptions of renovation projects.
      The flat has an open-plan layout and a restful ambience. Reeded glass partition walls allow light to penetrate into the windowless bathroom, as well as distorted view of the other side.
      Find out more about The Life ›
      Photo courtesy of Blueberry NightsBlueberry Nights, Georgia, by Sandro Takaishvili
      Georgian architect Sandro Takaishvili wanted this hotel in Tbilisi to make guests feel like they’re inside a movie.
      In the bedrooms, designed to evoke David Lynch’s visual style, the bathrooms are only separated by a slight change in level and the introduction of white tiles.
      Find out more about Blueberry Nights ›
      Photo by Torben EskerodVibo Tværveh, Denmark, by Valbæk Brørup Architects
      The bathroom at this summer cabin designed by Copenhagen studio Valbæk Brørup Architects takes the form of a tiled wet room that can be opened up to the elements.
      Located at one end of the long building, it opens through glass sliding doors onto an outdoor bathing area – which is fenced to avoid giving any passers-by a nasty shock.
      Find out more about Vibo Tværveh ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with sunken baths, subway tiles and double sinks.

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      Eight London house extensions that maximise space and light

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      For our latest lookbook we’ve gathered eight London homes that have traded in unused garden space for contemporary and light-filled living areas.

      Rear extensions are a popular option for transforming the pokey side returns and galley kitchens of Victorian and Edwardian housing, abundant in many areas of London.
      The eight examples below showcase how extensions can bring contemporary flair to a more traditional home and optimise living space for entertaining, relaxing and cooking.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring soothing cabin interiors, kitchens with sleek metal details and living rooms with warming fireplaces.
      Photo by Jim StephensonVictorian terrace house, UK, by Oliver Leech Architects

      Oliver Leech Architects retained this late 19th-century building’s character while opening up the “disconnected and dark” interior of this Victorian terrace house in Herne Hill.
      Prioritising natural light, the studio expanded the ground floor to include an open living, dining and kitchen space, meeting the existing building with a large skylight and window seat.
      Find out more about Victorian terrace house ›
      Photo by Jae W V KimSunny Side Up, UK, by THISS Studio
      THISS Studio approached this extension in east London as though it were a piece of furniture rather than a conventional structure.
      “We wanted to think of the new addition at a domestic scale and more like a piece of furniture that you can sit within and enjoy, rather than a typical extension of the existing spaces,” THISS Studio told Dezeen.
      The practice reconfigured the dark interior of this interwar house which features timber joinery and a light-filled dining space.
      Find out more about Sunny Side Up ›
      Photo by Helen LeechMoroccan inspired house, UK, by Merrett Houmøller Architects and All & Nxthing
      The client’s extensive travels to Morocco and the Mediterranean inspired this rear extension in London.
      Merrett Houmøller Architects and interior designer All & Nxthing renovated and extended this Victorian home with clay-plaster walls, exposed brickwork and tile floors to evoke the feeling of a Moroccan home.
      Find out more about Moroccan inspired house ›
      Photo by Ståle EriksenHeath House, UK, by Proctor & Shaw
      A dilapidated conservatory and awkwardly sized rooms were swapped for a light, wood-filled interior at this Grade II-listed villa in Highgate, north London.
      Architecture studio Proctor & Shaw prioritised natural light and a natural material palette of wood and white brick for the above and below-ground extension in north London.
      Find out more about Heath House ›
      Photo by Tim CrockerMagpie House , UK, by DGN Studio
      DGN Studio extended the kitchen of this east London terrace house by three metres to create “a more cohesive and seamless sequence for living, dining and cooking”.
      The extension is illuminated by skylights between wooden beams and features a concrete window seat overlooking the garden with the client’s furniture and fittings incorporated throughout.
      Find out more about Stoke Newington house ›
      Photo by Jim StephensonVictorian maisonette, UK, by Nimtim Architects 
      Douglas fir timber screens, exposed brickwork and rough plaster characterise this extension of a Victorian maisonette in Camberwell, south-east London.
      Nimtim Architects responded to a brief calling for greater connectivity and openness in the home to create a “place of reflection and sanctuary from the city”.
      Find out more about Victorian maisonette ›
      Photo by Lorenzo Zandri and Christian BraileyEdwardian home, UK, by Architecture for London 
      Architecture for London transformed this Edwardian home in Muswell Hill, which had been untouched for 40 years, using only sustainably minded interventions and natural materials.
      Created for the studio’s founder Ben Ridley, the house was renovated and extended to create a minimal interior characterised by oak wood, stone and lime plaster.
      Find out more about Edwardian home ›
      Photo courtesy of AOCForest House, UK, by AOC
      Gillian Lambert and Geoff Shearcroft of architecture firm AOC wanted to add personality and a connection to nearby Epping Forest when designing the front extension of their Victorian house in north London.
      A single-storey garage was removed to create a series of interconnected, playful living spaces featuring tactile materials, exposed block work and bold colours.
      Find out more about Forest House ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring characterful kitchens with sleek metal details, soothing cabin interiors and living rooms with warming fireplaces.  

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      Diandra Maselli Architect renovates historic red-brick home in Montreal

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      Montreal architect Diandra Maselli has overhauled a century-old house in the city for herself and her family, modernising the residence while retaining some historic character.

      The founder of Diandra Maselli Architect acquired the property a week before the Covid-19 pandemic caused global lockdowns, and faced an uphill battle during the renovation of the historic structure.
      The 100-year-old home was fully modernised inside, including a new kitchen”The house had its fair share of obstacles – including structural decay, carpenter ants, mice, water infiltration, foundation holes, and asbestos abatement,” said Maselli.
      “However, amidst these challenges, there was a silver lining – the extensive demolition and incorporation of a steel structure paved the way for a tailor-made renovation, envisioned to meet modern needs and newly unfolding realities.”
      Architect Diandra Maselli played with boundaries and thresholds throughout the homeWith the structural work on the 3,512-square-foot (326 square metres) building complete, the architect was able to tailor the interiors to her family’s needs.

      For example, they needed two home offices – one on each floor – that could also transition into family areas during evenings and weekends.
      A variety of custom doors were added, including a glass and steel design between the living area and home officeThe old building’s compartmentalised layout was restrictive, so Maselli explored playing with the public and private boundaries.
      She did this by introducing a variety of custom doors, using different designs and materials so that “each threshold assumes a distinctive purpose”.
      Although contemporary furniture was inserted, details like the fireplace mantles and bay windows were restoredA glass and steel door separates the ground-floor home office from the kitchen and living area, allowing light and views to pass between the two spaces.
      To conceal the laundry room from the kitchen, a nine-foot-tall (2.7 metres), flush-mounted door was installed, while a large sliding partition was added to open the kitchen to an outdoor patio.
      “By bestowing unique characteristics upon these transitions, the house’s dynamics shift responsively,” Maselli said.
      Built-in furniture made from white oak is found throughout the houseUniting the majority of the spaces is the use of white oak for millwork, built-in furniture and other details, providing visual consistency throughout the home.
      The most expansive application of the material is in the kitchen, forming a front for the cabinetry, a central island and a coffee station opposite.

      Atelier L’Abri renovates trio of apartments for a family in Montreal

      White oak also wraps walls and closets in the primary bedroom, where it is detailed with rounded corners and almost invisible door pulls.
      A half-height partition divides the sleeping and dressing areas, providing a view through mirrored double swing doors to the second-floor office.
      Upstairs, the primary bedroom separated from a dressing area by a half-height partitionThe renovation also provided the opportunity to modernise the home’s heating, ventilation and electrical systems.
      This included repurposing the original cast-iron radiators to support a dual-energy heating system.
      White oak millwork is used for the closets and features rounded cornersAll of the window shades, lighting and under-floor heating are automated to sync with the family’s daily routines.
      “The essence of the project is to blend the legacy of a century-old house with the needs of today, ensuring that its historic charm is retained while seamlessly integrating modern functionalities that respond to our new unfolding realities,” said the architect.
      The red-brick home in Montreal also received a full exterior restorationMaselli founded her eponymous studio in 2020 and has since also completed a single-family house in Lasalle, Quebec.
      Other recently renovated Montreal homes include a mid-century dwelling overhauled by Atelier Chardonnat and Salem Architecture, and a triplex residence reimagined by Atelier L’Abri.
      The photography is by Maxime Brouillet.

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