When the Bathroom Becomes the Heart of the Home
This Barcelona apartment rethinks conventional domestic architecture paradigms.
1Challenging Traditional Home Concepts
The 635 sq ft apartment in Barcelona's Turó Park neighborhood questions functional divisions in homes. While kitchens have evolved into social hubs, bathrooms remained unchanged. SIGLA Studio makes the bathroom a visible part of daily life through this project. Photographed by Marta Vidal, the apartment offers an alternative to the city's traditional compartmentalized layouts.
2Flexible and Connected Living Space
The project prioritizes light, openness and flexibility over square footage multiplication. Instead of separate rooms, it proposes a continuous living environment. Spaces connect and overlap, adapting to different situations throughout the day. A compact central volume combines kitchen, bathroom and dressing area, serving as the apartment's organizational core.
3Core That Eliminates Architectural Boundaries
The central volume at the apartment's heart functions as a connector rather than a boundary. It links the more private sleeping area with the living space facing the facade. Openings, reflections and carefully framed views allow natural light and ventilation to permeate the entire apartment. The design creates a sense of spaciousness in just 635 sq ft.
4Visible Bathroom Concept
The project's most distinctive feature is the bathtub in the open bathroom connected to the living area. More than a plumbing fixture, it becomes a visible part of daily life. Framed by a grand archway emphasizing its importance, the tub serves as a domestic centerpiece. A motorized pivoting glass enclosure provides privacy when needed.
5Material-Given Identity
Continuous mineral finishes wrap floors, walls and ceilings, creating a calm unified backdrop. Within this neutral envelope, the central core features three distinct materials: aluminum-clad plywood in kitchen, glossy forest-green ceramic tiles by Cerámica Ferrés in bathroom, and walnut wood in dressing area. Each function maintains its identity while contributing to a cohesive whole.
6At the Center of Daily Routines
The open bathroom concept integrates bathing into everyday experience. Privacy is available when required, but the bathroom remains open during regular use. This design positions the bathroom as a hub around which daily routines revolve, challenging conventional privacy notions. It transforms bathing into another layer of domestic life rather than a hidden function.
7Spaces That Evolve Over Time
Rather than imposing fixed living patterns, the apartment offers a flexible framework that evolves with its inhabitants. This approach blurs boundaries between rooms and questions traditional privacy concepts. The result explores a more open, connected and contemporary way of living. Spaces continuously transform according to changing needs and situations.
8Contribution to Contemporary Housing Design
SIGLA Studio's project opens new possibilities in residential design. This bathroom-centered approach invites reconsideration of spatial hierarchies. By questioning traditional functional divisions, the design inspires more integrated living environments. It proves the value of untried ideas in architecture, demonstrating how challenging conventions can yield innovative solutions.