Home in El Ensanche

On Calle Joaquín Costa, between two buildings in the Ensanche district and behind a façade adorned with mouldings and balustrades, hides this delightful home. Built in the late 1920s on a residential block in the expanding area of the city. Located in the Gran Vía neighbourhood just a stone’s throw from the busy Reino de Valencia avenue.

As can be seen in the images, the project aims to highlight the original features that lend the property character and virtue. This was one of the owner’s main concerns when she contacted the studio; she wanted to recover the hydraulic flooring and restore the doors. A great starting point.

The property boasts a little over 70m2, perfect for a home with fluid, multi-functional spaces. It’s size and shape meant we could propose a layout with ample cross-ventilation from one part of the home to the other. The studio, hall, living room and kitchen can combine in a single space stretching from east to west, if the user so wishes. This gives the spaces greater perspective and enhances views across the property.

The former rear balcony over the inner courtyard, typical of the period and type of home, had disappeared. These outdoor spaces were gradually incorporated into the interior of the home over the decades to add square footage.

Our proposal gave the property its balcony back, thus gaining ventilation and adding an outdoor space connecting directly to the interior. Also recovering a useful space for drying clothes and adding plants with a sliding window hidden in the side wall. All to favour the idea that the indoor space flows outside when open. 

Great care was taken when selecting materials to unify the colour palette. And as is also common in homes from this period, the ceilings are high and give a spacious feel that we would not dare to lose. We opted for high doors in keeping with the spaces, studying how to overcome the beams and utility installations.

The end result is a flowing, open and contemporary space that aims to recover the valuable original architectural features. We hope the colourful floors, high ceilings, rear balcony and warm woodwork create a pleasant atmosphere for the future occupants.