Les Pinyes del Cabanyal: Heritage Apartment Renovation by Piano Piano Studio in Valencia

Located in the heart of the historic Cabanyal neighborhood of Valencia, Spain, Les Pinyes del Cabanyal is a sensitive and intelligent architectural intervention by Piano Piano Studio. This renovation transforms a decaying 1920s single-family home into a set of two independent residential apartments and a technical attic level, all within the constraints of the building’s original 141-square-meter footprint.

A Protected Façade, a Forgotten Interior

Originally constructed in 1924, the building presented an ornate façade protected under heritage regulations. Despite its rich decorative exterior, the house concealed a compact 50-square-meter floor area and suffered from poor ventilation—dependent solely on air flow between façade openings and a rear chimney. Over the years, makeshift repairs were made, but by the time Piano Piano Studio took on the project, the interior had been abandoned and neglected.

Transforming Volume Without Expansion

The project’s main challenge was clear: to revitalize the structure without altering its volume. Within this compact layout, architects Maria Donnini and Maria Grifo inserted two self-contained apartments and added a third level for technical services, all while adhering to conservation requirements.

The key to unlocking the building’s potential was the reorganization of its vertical circulation. The previous steep, vaulted staircase was dismantled, and a new, comfortable staircase was designed to provide access to all three floors. Not only a circulation element, this staircase also functions as a social and sensory space, connecting the levels in a fluid and inviting sequence.

Daylight, Detail, and Duality

A crucial design goal was to maximize natural light in an interior that initially had very little—just a single skylight at the rear. By partially emptying the core and exposing the attic roof, the architects brought daylight deeper into the plan. The new floor structure sits within the space previously hidden by a cane ceiling, opening up views and creating a visual connection to the sky.

Though both apartments are identical in layout—centered around an open-plan scheme with a self-contained bathroom “box” not extending to the ceiling—each was subtly differentiated through materials and spatial articulation. These design decisions ensure each unit maintains its own distinct character while preserving unity across the building.

Material Strategy: Juxtaposing the Old and the New

Material and structural contrasts define the sensory experience. On the ground floor, existing wooden beams and ceramic tiles were retained and restored, preserving the historic identity of the space. In contrast, the first floor introduces a steel-concrete hybrid structure, exposing metal sheets and beams to articulate a clearly contemporary intervention.

Above the kitchen and bathroom areas, a wooden mezzanine was elevated to create a sense of vertical generosity and openness. The attic reveals the previously concealed sloped roof, reinforcing the project’s core idea: to harmonize historical authenticity with modern reinterpretation.

Heritage Preservation with a Contemporary Language

The renovation carefully balanced conservation with contemporary design. Exterior work involved restoring original wooden joinery, cabinetmaker-crafted shutters, and balcony railings—repainted in the distinctive silver hue characteristic of Cabanyal. Ornamental moldings were cleaned and celebrated, not erased.

Inside, reclaimed hydraulic tiles were repurposed creatively. Rather than reassembling them in their original configuration, they were repositioned along the perimeter of rooms to visually lighten the space. The remaining flooring was finished in light-colored ceramics, enhancing brightness and spaciousness. Color cues from the tiles informed the interior palette: the burgundy bathroom enclosures, mustard staircase highlights, and rounded forms recall the undulating facade, echoing through interior curves and soft transitions.

A Quiet Revolution in Urban Regeneration

Rather than mimicry, this project thrives on respectful contrast. Piano Piano Studio’s intervention celebrates preexistence without imitation, using each architectural gesture to dialogue with the past while expressing contemporary values. The project serves as a model for urban regeneration in heritage contexts, where creativity meets conservation and modest means yield meaningful transformation.

All Photographs are works of Milena Villalba