Ornament in the leading role
Casa Burés is one of the most beautiful townhouses in Barcelona. It was designed by the Catalan architect Francesco Berenguer and built between 1900-1905. Despite the fact that it was established at the beginning of the 20th century, it represents the decorativeness and love for ornamentation characteristic of the 19th century combined with Catalan modernism. The challenges of adapting the historic structure to the needs of the 21st century were taken up by Estudio Vilablanch and TDB Arquitectura.
Author: JC
Photos: Jose Hevia, Estudio Vilablanch & Bonavista Developments, Jordi Folch
The task was to transform a historic tenement house into a building that meets the needs of modern residents. There are 26 apartments and a lot of common space.
The renovation of the historic architecture required a great deal of knowledge and the workshop of local craftsmen, and the whole process took over three years.
The team of architects has identified three concepts for the interior design of apartments: three lofts and common parts in the basement regained their original industrial character; Two palace residences have been meticulously restored while maintaining the existing architectural elements, and 21 apartments are designed as contemporary residences with rich decorations.
The first owner of the tenement house, Francesco Burés, was one of the largest textile entrepreneurs in Spain. Therefore, the building's cellars were often used in the production of textiles.
The apartments on the ground floor and the common areas in the basement correspond to this story: large open spaces with high ceilings, concrete floors, iron columns and old brickwork are complemented by simple furniture that emphasizes the industrial character.
The original apartment of the former owner of the tenement house has been divided into two smaller ones, each with an area of 500 square meters. It was decided to thoroughly renovate all decorations: from mosaics and marquetry, through stained glass windows, frescoes on the walls and ceilings, to wooden decorative elements and ceilings with reliefs.
In the remaining apartments, a harmonious combination of old and new elements was chosen.
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