Our architecture studio was tasked with renovating a landmark family villa originally designed by the award-winning Catalan architect Lluis Cantallops in 1967. This iconic mid-century modern home had been preserved by its owners for over fifty years, offering a rare opportunity to work with a historically significant property. The villa’s well-maintained brick construction and large, traditional roof make it an exemplary piece of Catalan architecture, showcasing careful and intentional design.
Restoration of a mid-century Villa | MARESME
The current layout of the villa, which is arranged to fit the contours of the plot, spans two levels. The first floor is divided into two distinct zones, one dedicated to the bedrooms and the other to the living and day areas. In this renovation, we aimed to honor the original design while adapting the house to modern needs. We preserved the original surfaces and initial program of the house, focusing on minimal updates to the service areas, while making significant structural modifications to enhance the relationship between the interior and the outdoor space, particularly the pool area.
Our intervention involved replacing the original load-bearing brick walls and beams with large metal beams integrated into the traditional tile roof, supported by minimalistic round pillars. This transformation opened up the central living areas to create a new open-plan design with an expansive living room and open kitchen, bathing the main living area in natural light. Despite these changes, the exterior facades and the overall structure of the home remained intact, preserving the original windows and architectural features.
The ground floor was extensively renovated, shifting from a storage space to a new guest apartment, a multifunctional work area, and a fully-equipped home gym. The design of the main entrance is now marked by a series of staggered terraces with platforms that incorporate large planters, featuring carefully selected vegetation chosen in collaboration with a landscape architect.
Additionally, the renovation documentation includes a thorough description of the original woodwork, detailing the necessary restoration efforts, as well as custom furniture designs inspired by the unique principles of modern Catalan architecture.
REHABILITATION WORKS
