From the plot to the project: El Despatx is reborn in Barcelona

In the bustling heart of Eixample in Barcelona, a former textile warehouse from the 1960s is reborn as a bright and open architecture studio, blending history and modernity in a single functional space.

From history to innovation: the transformation of a textile warehouse

Located on the mezzanine floor of a residential building from the 1960s, this space once housed a textile warehouse. The building reflects the typical functional layering of the era: commercial activities on the ground floor, offices and laboratories on the main floor, and residences on the upper floors. A reimagined historic space, as we see in other architectural projects, to accommodate an open, bright, and functional work environment.

Structural challenges and creative solutions

The renovation carried out by Nook Architects had to deal with the presence of a reinforced concrete load-bearing structure, composed of pillars and beams that divided the space into two bays, and with the constraining position of the only drainage pipe available for the wet area. To optimize the use of space, a linear unit was designed along the perimeter of the dividing wall and the facade, which serves as an office, resting bench, storage space, and showcase for materials and mood boards.

A versatile and bright work environment

The resulting workspace is divided into two areas corresponding to the structural bays, each equipped with large tables intended for both individual work and group meetings. The custom-made furniture, made of laminated wood with oak veneer, has been designed using standard-sized panels and steel structures, to which units with drawers can be attached to separate the different workspaces.

Color Palette and Recovery of Original Elements

The color palette favors white as a base, with accents of petroleum blue reserved for the main tables and windows, framing the views towards the outside. The original steel windows have been restored and equipped with new glass panes to improve the energy efficiency of the building.

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Nook Architects

Carrer de Lepant, 258, Barcelona, Spain