Esperanza Apartment

Located in the historical center of Bilbao, near the church of San Nicolás, the residence with a storage facility was built in 1862 around an inner courtyard, which is still overlooked by the windows of the different levels of the house. Given the lack of a view towards the street, in the renovation project the architects focused on the floor plan and surfaces of the two usable floors to enhance and expand the interior space as much as possible, while offering greater visual breadth for the rooms. To this end, not only were the rooms of the original layout amalgamated to open up a more fluid path around the central courtyard, but the newly obtained spaces were almost laid bare, extending upward to grant maximum emphasis to the floors, walls, staircase, ceilings and beams. Horizontal, vertical and oblique planes have been restored to their original form and left completely white. The large dark wooden beams stand out, while the doors, windows and even the lighting, made up of simple wall appliques and recessed spotlights, are instead barely noticeable. In the living area the furnishings are spare and essential, mostly with vintage pieces in neutral colors, except for the pink and yellow chosen for the chairs. Total white is also seen in the block and cabinets of the kitchen area, designed by the architects themselves to make the whole even purer and brighter.

Location: Bilbao, Spain

Architecture: BABELstudio

Contractor: Femviura

Furnishings: Tokyostory vintage furniture; Thonet, String System; Foglia by Tobia & Afra Scarpa for Flos, Arkhos Light

Invisible doors: Eclisse

Kitchen: designed by BABELstudio, manufactured by Ebanistería Iser, Neolithe White

Pure worktop by Marmolería Basauri

Photos: Biderbost Photo