00:02For this apartment, we deliberately chose materials not typically found in residential settings.
00:09Instead, we sourced them from industrial suppliers, a direction we've been exploring in our work for some time.
00:16This approach allows us to introduce unexpected design elements using materials that are often more durable and efficient than standard
00:25domestic options.
00:27We wanted to create a flexible space that allowed us to host dinners, events, and even photo shoots.
00:35We also wanted the space to act as a mutual backdrop for our art and furniture, while giving us the
00:41opportunity to test and refine our own design ideas.
00:46My name is Eduardo Mediero, and I'm the founder of Angar, an architecture firm based in Madrid.
00:51I designed this apartment and live here with my partner Pelayo.
01:01The apartment is located in Madrid's El Magro district.
01:04El Magro is one of Madrid's most elegant neighborhoods, known for its historic architecture, embassy-lined streets, and peaceful yet
01:11central location.
01:13The building was constructed in the 1970s, and has always been a residential building.
01:18It consists of one to two-bedroom apartments occupied by mainly young couples.
01:26The apartment is on the fifth floor, and we have uninterrupted views of the sky, the city, and nearby rooftops.
01:33Including that of a 19th century monastery directly across from the building.
01:41There were a series of large, bulky, built-in cabinets dividing the apartment.
01:47There were two small balconies that we couldn't really use due to their small size and triangular shape.
01:53The apartment had two main rooms, a living room and a bedroom.
01:57We stripped the apartment back to its bare structure.
02:01We reclaimed the two small triangular balconies to extend the interior footprints.
02:06We switched the living room and sleeping area in order to have a larger common area and a smaller, cosier
02:12bedroom.
02:13Two large units were added to divide the space.
02:16They integrate the sleeping area and concentrate all of the home's storage.
02:27The entrance opens directly into the apartment.
02:30The first thing you see is the large, deep green MDF furniture-like cabinet that holds the bedroom and all
02:37of the home's storage.
02:41The living and dining area was created to feel more open and undefined.
02:45A flexible space that is used for different activities.
02:49We chose a soft Pirelli rubber flooring that is usually used in mechanic workshops, so it is very durable and
02:56easy to clean.
02:58We covered the entire ceiling of the apartment in steel panels that are often found in flexible or modular office
03:05ceiling systems.
03:09Both surfaces reflect light, helping to amplify the sense of space.
03:15In the living room, the MDF storage unit acts as a divider between the bedroom.
03:21Thanks to the raised floor in the bedroom, we were able to add drawers on the living room side, giving
03:26us more storage for household items.
03:31We decided not to extend the storage unit to the wall so it doesn't break the panoramic views.
03:38This gives the bedroom two entrances, which allows us to circle freely around the apartment.
03:48We love Vitra's anagram sofa and its flexibility thanks to its clip-on sides.
03:53This allows us to modify the space as we wish and adapt to our various needs.
04:02We've used Ian's walnut stool and John Purvey's steel stools as coffee tables.
04:09We love the flexibility that these provide and we love to move away from the conventional table.
04:17Isamunoguchi's Akari lamp creates a soft glow for the evenings.
04:24We hid the air conditioner into the wall and made cut-outs for the airflow.
04:29And we thought it was a nice way to keep the walls clean.
04:34The windows have industrial aluminum blinds that were intended for outdoor use.
04:40We love how it ties in with the industrial feeling of the apartment.
04:45We wanted a large dining table to host dinners, so we chose one with a marble top that is large
04:51enough for six guests.
04:54The Artex stools are low and so easy to stack and move around the apartment.
04:59When we host large dinners, we can use the extra chairs around the apartment.
05:06The kitchen is tucked away in a nook by the entrance.
05:10Another MDF storage unit was added here to separate it from the bedroom and provide storage for the kitchen.
05:18This unit also hides the washing machine.
05:21As this corner of the apartment is quite dark, we left a gap between the MDF storage unit and the
05:27ceiling to allow natural light from the bedroom to pass into the kitchen.
05:32The kitchen is made from stainless steel.
05:35And it was sourced from an industrial kitchen manufacturer.
05:39It is raised from the floor to appear more like furniture and less heavy.
05:44Although it is compact in size, the kitchen has everything we need.
05:49An induction stove, a dishwasher and a large sink.
05:53The suspended tube lights in the kitchen and entrance were sourced from the farming industry.
05:58So they are very functional while also being weatherproof.
06:03The bedroom is our own Veri Studiolo.
06:06We created a platform to elevate it off the ground.
06:10The idea was to construct the feeling of a small box within a larger space rather than to create a
06:16partition that divides spaces.
06:20It is made from raw, lockered MDF.
06:26With sun exposure, the cabinet's original green has gradually faded into a warmer tone.
06:33Inside, it houses all of our belongings in a series of cabinets, neatly storing everything from our clothes and linen
06:41to kitchen appliances and everyday essentials.
06:48The entrance to the bathroom is hidden behind an unassuming door in the living room.
06:54The bathroom is fully covered in white tiles on the walls, floor and ceiling.
07:01I found a fun stainless steel sink that was bought from a sports facilities manufacturer.
07:08It uses these pedals on the floor to turn on the tabs.
07:12It makes washing our hands a little more exciting.
07:16We like the idea of having no closed storage in the bathroom.
07:20And that is why we hid the shaving cabinet and everything in the niche.
07:27Living in a small space was not something I had previously decided.
07:32For me, it's not so important the amount of square footage that apartment has, but the quality of the space.
07:57It's not so important the definition of the outer room.
Comments