This renovation project is located in the Colonia Niño Jesús neighborhood, adjacent to Retiro Park in Madrid. Before its transformation, the residence was a typical early single-floor home common in the area, characterized by a traditional layout with multiple rooms and a long corridor linking the living room to the kitchen. Studio Anima focused the project on creating an expansive space, maximizing the existing natural light in the building, and distinctly dividing the public and private areas.
Based on this premise, the first step was to remove the long corridor. The circulation was transformed into an open and bright public area, incorporating functions such as the living room, dining room, kitchen, and reading area. The spacious design further enhances air circulation, and the natural light from the building's façade and the communal courtyard extends throughout the public area, making the space visually lighter and more transparent. Two symmetrical private bedrooms are located adjacent to the pristine white living and dining areas, each featuring windows with different orientations for light and views. The bedrooms are individually colored based on the occupants' preferences, creating a bold contrast with the white public area and adding a dynamic play of color throughout the space.
Studio Anima transformed the functional layout by designing an elongated, cloud-like area between the public and private spaces, which serves as the home's wet area. Elevated above the floor level, this cloud-shaped zone conceals a complete drainage system beneath it. The interiors of the two bathrooms are entirely clad in soft pink and coral orange mosaic tiles, installed using pre-formed mesh on the curved walls and meticulously hand-laid piece by piece on the floor. Each morning, as residents awaken in their private bedrooms, they pass through this “cloud” to freshen up and prepare for the day, entering the public space. Conversely, at the end of a productive day, they cross the cloud again to cleanse and retire to their bedrooms, ready for a peaceful night's sleep. This daily routine becomes a ritual, underscoring the cloud-shaped space's importance in the overall design.
