Gracia House by Roman Izquierdo Bouldstridge

Gracia House, designed by Roman Izquierdo Bouldstridge, is a sophisticated renovation of a 1932 modernist building located in Barcelona’s iconic Gràcia neighborhood. Covering an area of 1076 square feet, the project was conceived for a couple working primarily from home, with the future potential of accommodating a growing family. This renovation carefully balances the preservation of Catalan modernist architectural heritage with contemporary spatial strategies, resulting in a home that is both functional and aesthetically harmonious.

The design is structured around two main strategies. Firstly, the architects established a visual and spatial continuity between the street-facing façade and the inner courtyard by connecting a succession of rooms. This concept draws inspiration from traditional Japanese houses, emphasizing fluidity, flexibility, and a harmonious interaction between interior spaces. Secondly, the renovation aims to enhance and recover the characteristic elements of Catalan modernism, preserving the building’s original charm while introducing modern interventions to improve functionality, comfort, and light distribution throughout the home.

Originally, the apartment was heavily compartmentalized with narrow corridors and rooms poorly connected to the exterior, limiting natural light and ventilation. The renovation focused on opening up the space, demolishing non-structural walls and false ceilings, and restoring the existing ceramic vaulted ceilings. The building’s structural framework, composed of five load-bearing walls perpendicular to the street, guided the creation of a simple and poetic spatial language that supports a flexible program.

To improve the connection between interior and exterior spaces, four new bays were created with structural reinforcements. These bays define functional zones: the first bay accommodates the main bedroom, dressing room, bathroom, and gallery; the second hosts the living, dining, and kitchen areas with a gallery; the third contains the hall, distributor, and bathroom; and the fourth is dedicated to two future children’s bedrooms. This spatial arrangement allows for visual continuity, enhanced cross-ventilation, and natural light penetration into the deepest areas of the home, improving overall energy efficiency.

Sliding chestnut doors serve as the primary boundary system, providing flexibility between rooms. These doors can be opened or closed to redefine spaces as needed, allowing rooms to function as individual areas or as part of a larger, unified environment. In the kitchen, slender glass sliding doors facilitate natural light from the gallery while maintaining acoustic separation from the living-dining areas.

Materiality plays a central role in emphasizing the building’s modernist heritage while fostering a warm and inviting interior. White walls enhance brightness, while the wood of the sliding doors and flooring introduces warmth and texture. The main bathroom integrates micro-cement walls and floors with high ceilings and original moldings, harmonizing old and new elements. A freestanding bathtub is treated as a sculptural element, echoing the formal language of traditional bath bowls. Original gallery carpentry, arched and glazed in wood, was carefully restored and painted white to maintain the authentic modernist character while improving daylighting and aesthetic continuity.

Throughout the renovation, attention to detail ensures a seamless integration of historical elements with contemporary interventions. The careful restoration of ceramic vaults, decorative moldings, and windows preserves the building’s original identity while new spatial strategies enhance functionality, comfort, and adaptability. Gracia House exemplifies a thoughtful approach to modernist residential renovation, where respect for heritage meets contemporary living requirements, creating a home that is both visually striking and highly livable.

All the photographs are works of Adrià Goula