Small Family Apartment with Flexible Furniture and Design, Barcelona 58sqm/624sqft

We are really inspired by Aino and Alvar Aalto's architecture design that prioritize comfort, well-being, warmth and are centered on the user experience. The space had to be suitable for a young family to grow into, so it was designed to be practical and allow adaptability in the future. Materiality can allow a space to be minimal while still having character and coziness. While the kids are young, they wanted them to be able to share space rather than be in separate rooms. I'm Vincent Pavelsi from the Atelier Pavelsi Architects based in Barcelona. I designed this project with Sara Suarez Mayor from Pavillon33. This apartment is located in the an area situated at the foot of the iconic Montjuic hill in Barcelona. The district has a modest neighborhood with industrial origins. There is a public square located right next door, there is a kids play park, exercise equipment and of course outdoor seating areas and restaurants. The original apartment reflected the way of life at the time when the building was built. The terrazzo floors were partially covered with thin wooden slats and the kitchen was quite cute but stuck in the past. Its biggest issue was the lack of fluidity between spaces and it was really fragmented, with a small enclosed kitchen and living room, a useless corridor and three rooms with poorly balanced sizes. We moved the bathroom further from the bedrooms and opened up the living kitchen area to create better flow in the house. After the initial build we added furniture elements in the living room to improve functionality. In the bedroom we created an office nook and we combined two other bedrooms to create a larger kids room which could be separated in the future to give each child their own space. You don't need more space, you need better ideas. Think storage that works harder, bench space that stretches further, furniture that does more than one job and flexible ideas for cooking, dining and working from home. We've spent years filming the world's smartest small space design. Now we've turned what we've learned into two practical guides, the essential guide to your living room and the essential guide to your kitchen. Packed with clever layouts, lighting tips, colour and practical ways to make your home work harder. Download Never Too Small's essential guides today. Upon entering you are greeted by a full height birch cabinet for storing jacket, shoes and bags. It's a convenient spot to put down things like keys, lipstick and subway cards. This is accompanied by a small rounded chest that serves us both as storage units, a bench for putting on shoes and an extra seat in the living room. It also acts as a partition shielding the living room from view from the front door. The living room is compact but quite functional. The long unit holds the turntable with a compartment to display records. It has space for books, video games and controllers. It also has an alcove for storing stools and storage for office supplies. The sofa has enough room for all four family members to sit and enjoy a movie together. It can also be turned into a bed and has been used this way many times when granddad visits. The family wanted a cinema atmosphere so we installed a projector above the sofa. The coffee table is unwheeled so it can be easily moved around as needed. It can rise up to be used as an extra dining table and there are four stools hidden in the sides. The circular dining table is extendable to fit more people. Above the table there is a small discreet ceiling fan that looks like a light. There is a large storage unit next to the table which holds some cleaning items, books and more stools. The balcony is a nice spot to step out for a coffee, dry clothes or store some larger items. It's good to have a small outdoor space especially for kids. The floor in the apartment is terrazzo and having one material throughout the apartment improves the feeling of an open space. The kitchen runs along both sides of the wall in a galley style. It was custom made in the same birch ply material and a neutral stone worktop which is highly durable. The backsplash is tied with accent blue grout. We extended it to the full height of the wall to help make the room feel more spacious. On one side there is an integrated dishwasher, storage and also a washing machine. On the other side we created a large storage unit for the fridge, pantry and there is a niche here for the microwave and kettle. On one of the doors there is ventilation to allow air flow to the boiler. The worktop extends out into the living space to create a rounded breakfast bar. It's a nice place for people to sit to keep the cook company. Sometimes the kids do their homework here while their parents prepare dinner. We extended the door frames to the ceiling to create a sense of height which echoes the joinery design in the rest of the home. The family added a tall mirror at the end of the hallway which helps to reflect light into the space. The children's room is large and spacious. The children are currently sharing a bunk bed which allows them to have more space to play. This room was designed so that it can be divided into two rooms in the future when the children get older. In the center of the room they place their iCare desk back to back so they can each have their own space but also have access to a large surface when needed. On the other side of the room there is storage for all of their clothes and toys. The master bedroom is quite simple. The closet fits perfectly in the space and their bed also has storage beneath it with room for seasonal items. The work area takes advantage of a recess in the kitchen wall because the cabinet behind it didn't need to be that deep. The desk has a small drawer and tiles on the wall to make it feel like a unique space in the room. The bathroom is near the entrance to be far from the bedrooms. The two sinks allow both children to get ready at the same time and the round mirror soften the straight lines in the room. The toilet system is hidden to create a more aesthetically pleasing and seamless tile surface. The tiles have terracotta grout to match the color with the walls above. The shower bench was useful when the kids were younger but now it's mainly used for placing soap and shampoo. The family have added the shelves from iCare to store their towels and toiletries. It's hard to find affordable large apartments in Barcelona so refurbishing this small space allowed us to make it functional enough for family to make their home. For more small home inspiration check out our magazine now available in digital and print visit nevertosmall.com magazine