Full home renovation in Donostia-San Sebastián, 65 sqm

We conducted comprehensive renovation on this dwelling located in San Sebastian’s Gros quarter. The project was begun based on a shaft of natural light that we defined as the premise for the design. The concept is to create a pathway for natural light to travel and flow throughout the home, dominating each room and nook.

We used the partitions as elements that could mould to the space, instead of a space delimited by partitions. We opted against perpendicular layout of the partition, corner positions that can lead to unusable angles and lead to lightless spaces. The home’s two main partitions unfold toward the entrance, creating ample space. We made the most of usable surface area; all the doors are sliding and fit into the partitions, to avoid occupying space and blocking natural light.

We used a round, artifice-free design in monotone to boost the elements and materials. We reveal the pillar and beam concrete, leaving it exposed it in all its roughness and strength, and the existing pine wood floor has been recovered. We removed the old layers of varnishes and dyes and highlighted the strength of the grain with a natural, colourless finish.

We entirely removed the false ceilings. We played with volumes and textures with the different structural elements and different ceiling heights. Shining the spotlight on the recovered floor, with the new ceiling volume, provides a forceful definition of the two horizontal planes both delimiting and surrounding the dwelling.

We have created an interior design which, by means of designing its elements, recovering the original materials, and controlling proportions, is perceived as one single open space with natural light found everywhere.