Valencia-based Balzar Architects has completed sleek interiors for an apartment with a wabi-sabi aesthetic in Valencia, Spain. 

Named GE Apartment, the 300-square-metre apartment is situated in the center of Valencia which comprise, a number of late 19th-century modernist structures next to the city's iconic Mercado de Colón. 

Rich in moldings, stained glass, and ironwork, their facades depict a period when Valencia underwent a cultural and artistic awakening propelled by the bourgeoisie's vigor. Art Nouveau was influenced by the era of floral motifs, the celebration of regional identity, and the conversation with nature.

This setting gave rise to the GE Apartment, a refurbishment that aims to have a dialogue with the past rather than eradicate it. The project starts with a great deal of reverence for the preserved preexisting materials (original woodwork, ceramic flooring, stained glass, and moldings) and weaves a new story—that of a modern classic—around them. Every room turns into a crossroads where the past and present coexist peacefully, devoid of excess or nostalgia.

The house has a wabi-sabi style that celebrates the beauty of imperfection and transience. 

Travertine, wood, lime, linen, and wool are examples of natural materials that express the serenity and integrity that come with time. Textures are more powerful than colors; the warm, filtered light reveals the tranquility of a real place.

This timeless story is reinforced by the furniture. A carefully chosen collection of historic items from Nekonato Gallery, including pieces by Percival Lafer, Sergio Rodrigues, and Alvar Aalto that interact with modern designs by Vincent Van Duysen and Viabizzuno, has been organized alongside the owners, who are real design lovers.

Bespoke items that are thought of as an organic extension of the architecture—where material, form, and function coexist harmoniously—join this discussion. 

A collection that aims to complement with balance and subtlety rather than to dominate. A tribute to modernist Valencia and a calm meditation on flawed beauty, the GE Apartment is fundamentally a tale of balance and respect.

Project facts

Project: GE Apartment

Location: Valencia, Spain

Tipology: Renovation and interior design 

Constructed surface: 300 m2

Year: 2025

Client: First of a Kind

All images © David Zarzoso.

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