When the Bathroom Becomes the Heart of the Home
This Barcelona apartment challenges conventional notions of privacy in domestic spaces.
1Design That Questions Tradition
The 635 sq ft apartment in Barcelona's Turó Park neighborhood rethinks functional divisions in homes. Designed by SIGLA Studio, the project challenges why bathrooms remain hidden while kitchens have become social hubs. This architectural shift represents a radical change in spatial usage. Created per client request, the design offers an alternative to the city's traditional compartmentalized apartments. The layout prioritizes light and openness over rigid room divisions.
2Fluid Living Space
Instead of separate rooms, the project proposes a continuous living environment adaptable to different situations throughout the day. Natural light and ventilation flow freely through strategic openings. At the apartment's core sits a compact volume housing the kitchen, bathroom, and dressing area. This central element connects private zones with social spaces. Reflections and carefully framed views make the area feel more spacious than its modest dimensions suggest.
3Architectural Revolution: Open Bathroom
The project's most striking feature is the bathtub positioned directly adjacent to the living area. Framed by a grand arch, this space becomes the setting for daily routines. A motorized pivoting glass enclosure provides privacy when needed while remaining open during regular use. This design transforms the bathroom from mere plumbing into an active part of daily life. The approach redefines domestic spatial hierarchies.
4Material Identity
The spatial strategy is reinforced through material choices. Continuous mineral finishes create a unified backdrop across floors, walls and ceilings. The central core features three distinct materials: aluminum-clad plywood in the kitchen, glossy forest-green ceramic tiles by Cerámica Ferrés in the bathroom, and walnut wood in the dressing area. Each function maintains its identity while contributing to a cohesive whole.
5Flexible Living Framework
Rather than prescribing fixed living patterns, the project offers a system that evolves with its inhabitant. This approach blurs boundaries between rooms and questions conventional privacy notions. The resulting space explores a more connected, contemporary lifestyle. Despite its modest 635 sq ft footprint, the apartment achieves a remarkable sense of spaciousness through careful planning.
6Architectural Photography
Marta Vidal's photographs highlight the project's spatial qualities. The images document how natural light moves through the apartment throughout the day. Composition choices emphasize the design's most important features. Particularly striking are the grand presentation of the bathroom arch and close-ups of material textures. Vidal's lens also captures daily usage scenarios, showing the space in active use.
7Barcelona Housing Culture
The project challenges the city's traditional housing stock. Barcelona apartments typically feature compartmentalized layouts. SIGLA Studio's design prioritizes openness and flexibility over square footage accumulation. This approach reinterprets Mediterranean architecture's relationship with light and air. While respecting the urban context, it offers a radical alternative to conventional apartment living.
8Future Housing Design
This project serves as an example of redefining home concepts. The flexible spatial boundaries offer new possibilities, especially for urban dwellings. The design considers increased time spent at home in the post-pandemic era. The resulting living space becomes not just a residence but a manifesto on contemporary lifestyles. It demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform modest spaces into exceptional homes.