7 dwellings refurbishment
The project aims to refurbish and extend two early-20th-century terraced houses located on the corner of Carrer del Triomf and Carrer de Planas i Casals in Badalona, transforming them into a residential building with seven dwellings distributed over three floors.
The apartments are organized around a central service core and open onto the streets through new façade openings that preserve the proportions and dimensions of the original architecture. The result is a residential building that integrates into the consolidated urban fabric, highlights the historical memory of the place, and improves overall living conditions.
PRESERVING THE EXISTING STRUCTURE
The project makes a conscious effort to retain as many existing elements as possible. The façades and the interior load-bearing walls are preserved. To make this feasible, the foundations were reinforced using micropiles, and a new internal steel structure was introduced. This structure, formed by a framework of HEB and IPE profiles combined with composite metal deck slabs, serves a dual purpose: relieving the original ceramic masonry walls of structural loads and stabilizing the building against horizontal forces.
FUNCTIONALITY AND ORDER
The staircase is positioned along the party wall with the neighboring building, freeing up the façades as much as possible to ensure better natural lighting and ventilation for the dwellings.
The existing central wall is preserved and acts as a separating element between the vertical circulation core and the apartments. This core concentrates the more technical components (bathrooms, service shafts, elevator, etc.), a strategy that not only frees the façade but also provides flexibility in the interior layout of the dwellings, allowing them to adapt to different uses and requirements.
FORMAL STRATEGY
Key existing elements such as balconies and window sills are preserved. The vertical proportions of the original windows and French doors are also maintained, guiding the design of new openings that ensure natural light and ventilation in every room. The façade walls are finished with a small cornice, following the compositional strategy of the surrounding buildings.
A series of small steel balconies are introduced, clearly identifiable as contemporary additions. These provide outdoor access for the shared spaces of the dwellings and add a subtle sense of movement to an otherwise very rigorous façade composition.
INTERIORS
Inside, the steel structure is left exposed and painted white, adding texture and depth to the ceilings while reflecting light into the interior spaces. Once again, this structure is clearly distinguishable from the original ceramic masonry walls.
In essence, the interior design works with two main elements: white and wood. White appears on the walls, the glossy ceilings and steel structure, and the built-in furniture (doors, kitchens, etc.). Wood is used in the flooring, window and balcony frames, and in selected elements within kitchens and bathrooms.
The project achieves a balance between preserving historical heritage and introducing contemporary elements that enhance functionality and quality of life for residents. The combination of materials, the legibility of the structure, and the careful attention to natural light make it possible to create modern homes without losing the building’s original identity—demonstrating that thoughtful rehabilitation can be both innovative and sensitive to its urban context.
