Domestic architecture must respond to changes in family structure and the lifestyles of its inhabitants. This is the starting point for this comprehensive renovation and expansion project of a penthouse apartment in the center of Elche.
The new owner, a father of two and a commercial pilot, required a new living space that would adapt to his evolving needs. His frequent absences from home, and the desire for a welcoming, warm, and family-friendly space—a far cry from the hotel-room imagery he often found himself in upon his return—formed the starting point for this project.
A simple design that unifies the daytime living space through a series of folding surfaces. Wood, tile, and concrete run throughout the space, creating the kitchen, living room, and dining areas. A wooden slatted box encloses a central storage and bathroom module, leading to the bedrooms of the two children.
The need for a degree of separation between different areas led to the addition of an upper floor, which houses a master bedroom with a dressing room, bathroom, gym, and laundry area. The connecting staircase thus becomes an essential defining element of the domestic space, forming a storage unit that separates the dining and living areas, while also serving as a skylight for natural light from above.
This new floor is defined by a continuous glass plane that is set back to create a front terrace as an extension of the bedroom and a linear side garden that acts as a buffer against the neighboring properties.
Fluid spaces, natural light, and perimeter planes and volumes that create storage and service areas are the elements that shape this new domestic space tailored to its users.
2019
2020
CLIENT: Private
LOCATION: Calle Solars, Elche (Alicante)
YEAR: 2019-2020
COLLABORATORS: Raúl Álamo Brotons (Structural Engineering) / Ramqui i i (Lighting Design)
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: David Frutos
DRAWINGS CREDITS: ARN / Arquitectos
WEBSITE: www.arnarquitectos.com
CONTACT EMAIL: [email protected]
ARCHITECTURE FIRM: ARN / Arquitectos
AUTHORS:
Architect José Amorós Gonzálvez
Architect Luis Rubiato
Architect Patricia Navarro
David Frutos
