Loft on Avenida Daroca

We launched a full rehabilitation of an old, abandoned warehouse located on Daroca Avenue in Madrid, converting it into a luxurious loft-style apartment. Despite the initial poor condition of the building, our process allowed us to successfully convert it into a spacious, versatile dwelling, adapted to the highest standards and current regulations.

The wide and open spaces convey the sense of a house in constant evolution, allowing them to be changed and adapted according to the user ́s needs. For example, the lowest level can be converted from a children ́s playroom into a home theater, thanks to the building ́s versatile layout.

The warehouse possesses 250 square meters, which are distributed amongst 3 different levels in order to play with space and light. The lowest level contains the living room, library, a home theater and a music room, while the middle level houses the kitchen, a bathroom, an office and the foyer. On the highest level are 3 bedrooms and bathrooms. All of the spaces are open, but the bedroom area is equipped with a sliding panel system that allows for privacy at night.

Lighting also plays a significant role, both directly and indirectly. The lights which bathe the brick walls create an effect of warmth, while numerous skylights permit a generous amount of natural light to enter the home.

The humidity, leaks, lack of insulation and crumbling roof required a comprehensive reform of the space. We needed to re-do the drainage systems, thermally insulate the building, replace the roof and remove the plaster from the walls, exposing the brick underneath. The net effect was that of a space designed for efficient and sustainable living.

We selected materials that would respect the building ́s industrial past, such as iron and cement. Our desire to emphasize genuine materials such as brick and varnished wood resulted in the predominant tones of the dwelling: the burnt-red of the bricks, the ochre of th wood, the black of the iron, and the white of the walls. The contrast between the colors of the materials and the rugs highlights and limits the spaces, creating a balance between the spaciousness and seclusion of each area.