BABEL studio took over the renovation of a house thatn is located on the elevated first floor of a unique building from the 60’s in Bilbao. The residence, which occupies an entire corner of the building, has large windows that overlook a private garden on one side and, on the other, open onto a pedestrian street. Due to its location on the first floor and the original distribution, the main rooms were totally exposed to the street, which generated a total lack of privacy for the owners.
The architects’ main objective was to study the possibilities offered by the property to create an intimate and personal space where daily life would not be affected by the proximity to the street. The two main proposals to achieve this effect were:
- To enlarge the rooms facing the exterior as much as possible. In this way, the viewer can be placed in a position farther away from the windows, accentuating a less focused horizontal gaze at street level.
- Working the windows as frames containing filters. These wooden frames contain the various solar and visual protection filters needed for the house.
This main objective is combined with the intention of providing the space with a singular sense where the choice of materials and taste for detail are especially valued. The property, coming from the world of design and widely familiar with creativity and love for materials, opted for a careful project in every detail.
The general distribution of the house works in such a way that the living room, kitchen and dining room are located in the corner, acting as a hinge between the parents’ area and the girls’ area. The parents’ area includes a study and a bedroom with dressing room, powder room and private bathroom. The girls’ area consists of a common play area, two single bedrooms and a bathroom. In addition to these main spaces, the house has an entrance hall, a storage room, an office and a toilet for the common area.
Special attention has been paid to the choice of materials and the design of each integrated furniture element.
Natural materials and neutral colors have been chosen to achieve a sense of calm inside the house. The aim is to create an interior that invites reflection and is luminous. The flooring, doors and furniture are made of American white oak. Tadelak has been used to cover the showers and ceramic tiles for the flooring in the wet areas. The washbasins, designed by the studio, are made of terrazzo or marble.
The integrated furniture is entirely designed by BABEL studio. Every detail, from the design of the kitchen cabinet and its handmade handles, to the cabinets, desk and vanity units, has been carefully planned to give the space a unique character. The wall coverings and furnishings were made in collaboration with local craftsmen and cabinetmakers.
In addition, the paintings that decorate the house are by DOK, artists from the Basque Country. The NARATA studio has helped the architects with the selection of the free-standing furniture and other decorative objects.
The free-standing furniture elements in the space, as well as the color of the walls, follow a neutral and soft line.
Each choice has been made with the intention of creating a relaxed and cozy atmosphere that complements the harmony of the whole project.
Facts & Credits
Project title: CV house renovation
Project type: Interiors | Apartment renovation
Project location: Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
Year of completion: 2024
Architecture: BABEL studio
Photography: Erlantz Biderbost
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