Fernando's Flat is the result of incorporating new housing needs into a historic structure, once traditional typological conventions have been overcome. The result is an attractive, functional, serene, and bright house.
When we first arrived at the property, we found it open-plan, exposed, and without partitions. Fernando explains that one or two people will be living in his house, that one or two guests might occasionally stay overnight, and that a few more would also come over for dinner or drinks.
Originally, the building was organised into two bays, supported by two deep load-bearing walls forming the opposite façades, and a lighter intermediate structural line, but also with a strong presence due to its original materials and exposed reinforcements.
At some point, the building had grown towards the courtyard, shifting the façade line and converting what could originally have been a gallery into an interior. Consequently, a central band appeared with scarce natural light and no direct ventilation.
We decide to take advantage of the enormous potential of the nude space. We leave the existing structure free and propose a completely open home, where everything is transparent and light flows from façade to façade. Furthermore, we want to achieve an infinite perception of the space, dissolving any boundaries.
Likewise, we strategically positioned the briefing so as not to interrupt the cross-views. The three main uses—living, sleeping, and dining—are arranged in parallel, with no apparent division between them. We also break the orthogonality at specific points to maximise reflections and transparencies.
The bedrooms become simply furnishings. The wet rooms are tactically placed next to the party wall and separated from the rest of the flat by a partition that is transparent at the top. The continuous ceiling and the passing of light emphasise the feeling of spaciousness.