Barcelona Garage Converted Into Residential Apartment Using Concrete and Red Tiles
Lablanca studio transforms a hillside garage into a functional guest apartment in Torre Baró.
1Adaptive Reuse in Barcelona
Architects Jordi Ribas and Mònica Piqué of Lablanca led the conversion of a former garage into a guest apartment. Located in the Torre Baró neighborhood, the project addresses the unique challenges of the Collserola mountain range. The design focuses on integrating a new living space within an existing, irregular structural envelope.
2Navigating Hillside Topography
The site is defined by steep slopes and self-built domestic architecture. Lablanca had to work with a trapezoidal main volume and an elongated double-height space. These irregular geometries necessitated a floor plan that responds directly to the hillside's structural conditions, including a raised concrete foundation block that protrudes above the floor.
3Strategic Wet Core Placement
The interior layout features a central wet core that acts as a spatial threshold. A lightweight kitchen module sits atop the raised foundation plinth, while the bathroom occupies an excavated rear wall recess. This configuration effectively separates the public living area from the private, top-lit sleeping quarters located in the double-height space.
4Managing Subsurface Moisture
The rear wall recess is prone to subsurface moisture due to its position against the hillside rock. To mitigate this, the architects utilized unrendered, breathable concrete masonry units for partitions and built-in furniture. This material choice allows for better humidity regulation while maintaining the raw aesthetic of the original garage structure.
5Material Palette and Cladding
Saturated red, small-format porcelain stoneware tiles provide a distinct visual contrast to the gray concrete blocks. These tiles clad the kitchen plinth and the bathroom recess, linking the interior design to the adjacent main residence. The small-scale tiling allows for seamless application over the irregular angles of the existing perimeter walls.
6Functional Zoning Through Materials
The transition between raw concrete masonry and red glazed tiles serves as a functional marker for different zones. By using these specific materials for the bed frame, storage units, and bathroom enclosure, the design team creates a cohesive interior. This material strategy defines the circulation path through the narrow, threshold-like central core.
7Structural Integration Challenges
The project highlights the complexity of converting non-residential structures into habitable spaces on challenging terrain. By anchoring the kitchen directly onto the existing foundation, the architects minimized structural intervention. This approach respects the original garage footprint while successfully adapting the space for modern residential use within the dense urban hillside.
8Architectural Significance of Llerona
Llerona demonstrates how adaptive reuse can revitalize underutilized structures in constrained urban environments. By prioritizing breathable materials and clever spatial organization, Lablanca successfully transformed a moisture-prone garage into a functional apartment. The project serves as a case study for managing irregular volumes and environmental factors in hillside residential construction projects.