For a young Italian woman working in the fashion industry in Barcelona, living in a historic building would not mean living in the past. She wanted her nearly 700 square-foot apartment to feel vibrant and more open, so she brought on Andrea Serboli and Matteo Colombo of Colombo and Serboli Architecture to transform the space, which is set in a 13th century building in the Born area of the city. Their first step was to reconfigure the layout and transform the space from a cramped, three-bedroom to a roomy one-bedroom. The living room and kitchen were moved from a windowless area to a bright and airy room facing the street. The architects also removed the false ceilings to expose the original vaulted ceiling beams, which were then painted white.
The streamlined apartment is punctuated by a few colorful additions, including a bespoke blue-and-pink storage unit that separates the entry from the living room and an arched capsule beside the kitchen that conceals a powder room. The finished project reflects the building's original grandeur while injecting a youthful spirit and sense of fun.
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