Cal Totxo Apartment by Cierto Estudio: A Warm, Circulatory Reimagination at the Edge of Nature

Set at the foothills of Collserola Natural Park in Barcelona, Cal Totxo is a thoughtful renovation by Cierto Estudio, transforming a compartmentalized modernist apartment into a fluid, light-filled home for a family of four. Completed in 2022, the 100 m² project redefines interior living through spatial reorganization, custom materiality, and sinuous design gestures that reflect both warmth and elegance.

From Constrained to Connected

The original layout was marked by three small bedrooms, two dark bathrooms, and a series of narrow, underutilized corridors. Cierto Estudio’s intervention does away with rigid circulation in favor of an uneven interior grid that replaces hallways with interconnected, multifunctional rooms. Each space now has multiple access points, increasing flexibility and inviting daylight into previously isolated areas.

Key to this transformation was the decision to reduce the number of bedrooms from three to two, prioritizing generous shared living areas—a bold move tailored to the needs of the resident family.

Spatial Fluidity and Functional Zones

The apartment is now entered directly from outside through a welcoming entrance hall, which opens onto a communal dressing room and a library space. From there, occupants flow toward the living room, centered around an existing fireplace whose hearth now anchors a circular spatial route.

The kitchen was reconfigured and extended into a new dining area, visually separated but part of the larger interconnected layout. One of the original bathrooms was converted into a laundry room, allowing the remaining bathroom to be expanded and enhanced.

Crafted Geometry and Warm Materials

Cierto Estudio's custom furnishings bring cohesion and artistry to the renovation. Natural wood cabinetry, rounded corners, circular mirrors, and arched window frames introduce a tactile softness. The use of Sapelli wood, with its warm reddish hue, lends a subtle monochromatic palette that reinforces intimacy—especially within the darker dressing room, which gains natural light indirectly from the bathroom and entrance.

The team’s detail-oriented approach is evident in the use of hydraulic tiles, which are laid in a random two-tone pattern. The 10x10 cm format is cut diagonally to form triangular geometries, used not only for flooring but also as inspiration for door handles and surface transitions.

Material Contrast and Visual Continuity

Furniture throughout the home follows a two-tone strategy, pairing natural wood with Macael marble, white melamine, and painted surfaces. These material combinations change depending on the function of each space and subtly blend into the architectural shell, creating a seamless aesthetic between walls and furnishings.

Rather than dominate the space, the renovation emphasizes visual rhythm, domestic comfort, and refined restraint, making Cal Totxo both highly livable and visually engaging.

All the photographs are works of José Hevia