2 Dwellings at Tamarit st. Barcelona, Spain
The commission involves the reuse and segregation of an old kindergarden located in the mezzanine floor of an early twentieth century Eixample building. We propose a 45 sq m appartment well oriented to the Sant Antoni market, and a second 60 sq m appartment with a 40 sq m terrace in the inner courtyard.
As we don’t know the future inhabitants of these two new dwellings at Tamarit street, the domestic program is left completely open. This uncertainty is precisely the objective of the project: to provide a free, multi-purpose space that can be used in alternative ways depending on the characteristics of the future inhabitants.
The first step is to empty and renovate the existing container space, which we found in a precarious shape. We recover ceilings, party walls and the existing windows. We introduce a service piece, parallel to the main facades, built with a light pine structure and birch wood envelope. This piece is designed as a cabinet that guarantees basic household duties such as cooking, washing, storing and sleeping.
The existing 3.60 m height provides a useful volume that is optimized with two levels. The kitchen is 2.50 m height, while bathroom and dressing area are 2.20 m height, allowing to use the remaining 1.35 m as a bedroom or a storage space.
The floor is solved with a reinforced concrete slab anchored to the lower slab. The lighting system allows changes in the distribution relocating light bulbs which are simply subjected with a hook to the ceiling beams.
