Villa 2030: Studio Plutarco Reimagines Modernist Architecture in Madrid
Studio Plutarco transforms a 1990s apartment into a vibrant, historically-informed modernist residence.
1Architectural Philosophy of Appropriation
Studio Plutarco founders Ana Arana and Enrique Ventosa view design as a transformative process. By drawing inspiration from 1930s modernist villas, they absorb historical influences to create a contemporary manifesto. Their Villa 2030 project serves as both a private residence and a living laboratory for testing bold, exuberant design languages.
2Tabula Rasa Design Strategy
Unlike Arana’s previous residence in a historic villa, Ventosa’s project occupies a 1990s building. This structure offered fewer historical constraints, allowing the architects to treat the floor plan as a blank canvas. They reorganized the space around a central T-shaped wall of glass blocks that filters light and defines rooms.
3Homage to Modernist Icons
The interior design functions as an architectural collage, referencing figures like Pierre Chareau, Le Corbusier, and Eileen Gray. By deconstructing and recombining elements from these masters, the architects create a space that feels both theatrical and timeless. The home acts as a curated library of design history filtered through a modern lens.
4Theatrical Entrance and Living Spaces
The entrance mimics a 1900s greenhouse, featuring exotic plants and a wall-mounted hose reel. Inside, the 100-square-metre living area utilizes industrial elements like suspended cable trays and linoleum flooring. These choices nod to the Maison de Verre, while deep aubergine and sky blue hues provide a distinct, playful color palette.
5Eclectic Furniture and Bespoke Pieces
The living area blends custom Plutarco creations, such as the STV sofa, with iconic pieces by Vico Magistretti and Faye Toogood. A central dining zone features brick-red tables and Sistema chairs with oversized perforations. This mix of bespoke and classic furniture anchors the space, creating a layered, highly tactile environment for residents.
6Functional and Theatrical Dining Zones
The home includes a formal dining zone on a sapele-wood podium, inspired by Donald Judd’s minimalist aesthetic. A rotating screen displays art by Arturo Garrido, adding a performative element to the space. Curtains allow for the enclosure of the area, providing flexibility between open-plan living and more intimate, private dining experiences.
7Kitchen and Studio Layouts
The kitchen utilizes butter-yellow cabinetry and checkerboard floors, directly referencing Robert Mallet-Stevens’ Villa Cavrois. An open stainless-steel cooking station introduces professional-grade industrial logic. Meanwhile, the painting studio and guest room share mirrored layouts but diverge in mood, with the studio exposing plaster layers and the guest room featuring earth-toned curiosities.
8Historical Synthesis and Future Outlook
The master suite riffs on Adolf Loos’ 1903 designs, while the bathroom pays homage to Villa E-1027 and Villa Necchi. By recasting these historical references through contemporary sensibilities, Studio Plutarco proves that modernist mindsets remain relevant. Villa 2030 effectively continues a century-old design conversation, pushing it forward into a new era.