Minimalist flat in San Sebastian
In close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, this flat in San Sebastián is part of the topology of the 1930s expressionist buildings typical of the centrally located neighbourhood of Gros.
Historically, a labour-orientated area, the original layout reflected the traditional subdivision of space into as many rooms as possible to accommodate large families living together.
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San Sebastian, Spain
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Residential
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2020
Our approach concentrated on reimagining and transforming the space into an open, modern, three bedroom flat with considered living areas. To achieve this the majority of the partitions were removed, but all the concrete beams were left exposed to preserve the history and memory of the previous divisions. The imperfection of the concrete beams, in contrast to the pure white walls and micro-concrete floors, punctuate the space with contrasting textures throughout
By removing the door frames and skirting boards we were able to exaggerate the effect of natural light. This ensures the walls amplify the light during the day and accentuate the natural character of the Carrara marble, linen and wool. In the evening the lighting system, that runs on tracks, mirrors the Minimalist flat in San Sebastian horizontal geometry of the concrete beams and allows flexibility to frame the dining table in different ways.
In the living space we created a working area hidden beneath a large sliding door where it is possible to work in the brightest part of the flat.
Design gestures in the kitchen have been kept to a minimum to emphasise the materiality of the marble used for the worktop and splash back. With sufficient space afforded to store all appliances behind matte Fenix cupboard doors it maintains a harmonious atmosphere in the kitchen. The bathroom floor, basins and bathtub are clad in large format tiles and, with the light grey cement floor, create a sculptural effect of intersecting volumes. Throughout the project we were mindful to reduce the energy consumption of the family home.
Having insulated the external walls, ceiling and floors we also upgraded the underfloor heating and replaced the existing windows to the latest standard of energy efficiency.
The play of pale tones, exposed concrete and Carrara marble create harmony between material and texture that form the blank pages for the family’s story to be written.
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Ground Floor Plan
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