Burgatoi Renovation by Tenka Arkitektura: A Curved Space That Blends Function, Light, and Emotion

Located in the heart of Bilbao, Spain, the Burgatoi Renovation by Tenka Arkitektura transforms a once fragmented top-floor apartment into a seamless and sensorial living space. Named after a nautical term referencing a curved wooden piece used in shipbuilding, “Burgatoi” reflects the project’s core design idea: a dynamic and fluid architecture shaped around a soft, curving interior wall that redefines domestic space.

A Unique Urban Renovation in Bilbao’s Ensanche District

Set within a 1960s building in the Ensanche Bilbaíno, the 110 m² apartment initially presented several architectural challenges. The irregular, L-shaped floor plan was interrupted by structural elements and small, disorganized ventilation shafts (patiejos), obstructing spatial cohesion. A strategic agreement with a neighboring unit allowed the addition of a façade and private terrace, greatly enhancing the apartment’s layout and connection to the city.

A Fluid Program: Day and Night Zones

Designed for a young couple with a child, the interior layout is divided into clearly defined day and night zones. The public area consists of an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space, while the private zone includes two bedrooms and two bathrooms. However, instead of relying on conventional straight walls or corridors, Tenka Arkitektura introduced a sweeping curved partition that flows through the apartment, unifying these zones while giving the home its distinct character.

This curved architectural gesture functions as both a visual statement and a functional organizer—concealing utilities like storage, ventilation shafts, laundry, and even portions of the kitchen within its depth. Inspired by Le Corbusier’s “architectural promenade,” the design encourages movement through the space, unfolding in a rhythmic sequence of light, material, and geometry.

Materiality and Light: Minimal Palette, Maximum Impact

One of the most striking features of the Burgatoi Renovation is the wooden curve clad in triangular, lacquered blue panels. This textural surface reflects changing daylight, emphasizing its sculptural form while adding warmth and intimacy to the apartment. The wood introduces a tactile quality and human scale, contrasting against the clean, continuous epoxy resin flooring in soft gray, which enhances spatial fluidity and continuity.

Complementary materials—such as subtle neutral finishes, elegant lighting by Vibia, and select furnishings by Ferm Living, HAY, and Mutina—create a calm yet sophisticated ambiance. The minimal palette ensures that the bold curve remains the focal point, while integrated furniture solutions like hidden doors and built-in benches further reinforce the spatial clarity.

A Bedroom as Architectural Finale

At the culmination of the curved path lies the master bedroom, designed as a sanctuary that encapsulates the themes of the renovation. Accessed via a gently sloping passage that rises toward the room’s open ceiling, this space incorporates sleeping, bathing, and dressing functions into a unified, serene environment. Here, architecture transcends function and becomes experience—flow, light, and form coming together in a poetic finale.

A Cohesive Vision with Bold Simplicity

The Burgatoi Renovation stands out not through excess, but through restraint and clarity. The curved wall not only anchors the design conceptually but also houses all technical and service functions, allowing the rest of the space to breathe. Tenka Arkitektura’s intelligent, expressive renovation redefines urban apartment living in Bilbao—offering a model of how architectural form can simultaneously deliver beauty, functionality, and emotional resonance.

All the photographs are works of Biderbost Photo