H3O Architects Transform Barcelona’s Casa Plató with Subtle Elegance and Modern Charm

Preserving Heritage While Embracing Modernity as h3o architects transform

In the heart of Barcelona‘s Gracia neighborhood, H3O architects have skillfully renovated Casa Plató, a 19th-century gem. Originally a rural abode, it evolved into a grand residence with ornate additions like towers and balustrades. This restoration carefully preserves its cinematic charm while infusing playful architectural elements, showcasing how they reshape such spaces.

The architects faced the challenge of maintaining the home’s authenticity. Casa Plató, often a film set, embodies the duality of a living narrative and fictional possibility. Expanding the kitchen, adding an additional bathroom, and creating new openings rejuvenate the house while respecting its heritage. The architects drew inspiration from films shot here, meticulously restoring features like mosaic floors and ornate mouldings. This process illustrates how the team transforms traditional structures while respecting their historical significance.

A Blend of Old and New in the Kitchen as they reimagine

The kitchen, central to the renovation, gracefully merges old and new. Enlarging the space, the team added features that complement the original. Dark tiles, a geometric cooker hood, and a wavy wooden table enhance its functionality. The introduction of a terrace, echoing the courtyard’s blue tiles, strengthens the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, showcasing yet again how they modify environments to blend seamlessly with their surroundings.

Modernist Influences in Bathroom Design

Preserving the original bathroom, H3O also designed a new, minimalist bathroom, staying true to modernist styles. Featuring white mosaic tiles, a circular shower, and stainless-steel washbasins, the space embodies organic geometries reminiscent of marine forms. A playful pivoting window adds a whimsical touch as the architects turn the bathroom into a modern retreat.

Cherishing the Past, Inviting the Future

Significant heritage spaces like the dining room remain untouched, showcasing vibrant wallpapers and intricate mouldings. Salvaged elements, like marble surfaces and relocated doors, tether the home to its rich past. Meanwhile, previously dim spaces now bask in natural light thanks to cleverly hidden windows, one concealed beneath a painting. These transformations highlight how they redefine heritage spaces into light-filled living areas.

The lush garden, a rare green sanctuary in the bustling city, harkens back to Casa Plató’s rural origins. This preservation effort offers a historical oasis amid urban density, melding the past with potential future histories.

Founded in 2017 by Adrià Orriols, Joan Gener, and Miquel Ruiz, H3O approaches architecture with a blend of critical and experimental methodology. Their portfolio includes innovative redesigns like a barn with zigzag interiors and uniquely tiled communal spaces. Capturing the essence of their work, the photography is by Simone Marcolin.

To appreciate more architectural transformations harmonizing with nature, see Simone Bossi’s capture of Castelgrande’s historic intervention.

For more insights on blending historical elegance with contemporary design, explore how Pietro Cataudella combines drawings to create stunning artworks that balance old and new.

Source: dezeen.com

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