00:04The aim was to create a dynamic home open to different possibilities, allowing for a flexible
00:10and responsible way of living today and in the future. For example, when the client's children
00:16come to visit, the living room becomes a bedroom, the dining table expands for shared meals and
00:23the balcony transform into a gathering space. It's a home that can evolve and adapt with
00:30its resident needs at different times. I'm Ismael Medina Manzano, an architect and researcher
00:38working between Madrid and New York. The apartment is located on the outskirts of
00:50San Celestian. It's a city in the Bay of Biscay, 20 kilometers from the France-Spain border.
01:00This project is called the Unplanned Domestic Prototype. It challenges rigid conventional
01:05layout by creating a home that adapts seamlessly to different activities and needs. All the
01:13furniture pieces are designed to be movable in order to create a greater flexibility in
01:18the house for different activities. This building was constructed in 1966 as part
01:27of Spain's post-war standardized housing boom. The owners are part of a larger, diverse family
01:35made up of multiple household and ages. So they wanted space that could comfortably house six
01:44people at the same time or be a cozy space for two. We decided to create a circular wall because
01:52this space could be changing a lot with different activities. So the curve helped us to emphasize
01:59and to make bigger the space. It's a wall that helped us to create more movement in the space and
02:08make it
02:09easily to change. The original floor plan was divided in three bedrooms, a close-off kitchen, a narrow corridor,
02:19and a dark living area. We decided to create a wide open concept space. To separate the living and sleeping
02:28areas,
02:28we created a semicircular wall. Inside it, we placed storage and a small guest toilet at the client's request.
02:40So you entered the apartment through the hallway. The green metal doors with polycarbonate panels lead to
02:49the bedrooms, letting light filter through and act as a diffuser. A polycarbonate ceiling was installed to
02:57soften the artificial light and give the illusion that the space is a nitrile lightbox. So we choose to use
03:05mirrors in this space to double the size and reflect the light. Behind these mirrors, you'll find storage,
03:14wardrobes, pantries and a guest toilet on the right. The guest toilet is accessed via a hidden door that blends
03:23into the mirror hallway. It's clad in white mosaic tiles and receives natural light through the glass blocks
03:31that are integrated into the curved tile wall. The locally sourced sandstone in the center was thought of a
03:39passageway. It invites you to cross this reflective wall going from a space that is compact and to a
03:47very open space and higher ceilings.
03:52As an architect, we can treat materials in a more sensible way. So we use it as it is, natural,
04:01with its pores, with its textures, because it's ecological more responsible.
04:08The living and kitchen areas are connected. It was very important for us to have a space that was
04:16completely adaptable to different activities. Most furniture is on wheels or can be reconfigured for
04:24different uses. For example, plants on rolling platforms can act as unmovable green partitions,
04:32providing privacy when needed. The mirror kitchen blends smoothly with the ceramic material, allowing
04:42the views to pass through while reflecting the terrace outside. This gives the illusion that the kitchen can
04:49disappear even though it stays open to the leisure area when in use.
04:57The custom-made liftable table was designed at our studio. It can be used as a prep area for cooking
05:04to move things around or as a large dining table depending on the activity.
05:09Thanks to heavy-duty casters and a hydraulic system, this piece is easy to use and extremely adaptable to the
05:19space.
05:21Both the kitchen countertop and table surface are made from reclaimed leftover wet granite from the
05:27building's renovation that was done before. The green metal beams across the ceiling give a sense of
05:34continuity to the spaces. The diagonal tube lighting creates a sense of dynamism for this ever-changing space.
05:50The sofa can be used as a bed, as a conversation area or a sitting space for reading or also
05:58watching movies.
06:00We choose the fabric to match the vertical lines in the glazed tiles.
06:05The placement of color was carefully considered to visually expand the space, using bold tones to
06:12background surfaces to draw a TI and guide it to all corners of the space.
06:20The balcony is accessed through an accordion window that opens up fully. This way the outdoor space becomes
06:28an extension of the living area and daily activities.
06:36The door to the main bathrooms is camouflaged within the walls of the vegetable in order to make it truly
06:43unexpected. It is designed to feel like a separate capsule that feels peaceful and calming. The blue tones
06:53throughout the space helps to create a soothing atmosphere. A drop ceiling hides the strip LED light in the bathroom.
07:06Behind the green metal doors with translucent panels are the bedrooms. These doors let natural light
07:13come in from outside, making the space feel bigger. The bedrooms are kept simple and small with open closets.
07:25My approach to architecture focuses on adaptability, creating spaces that respond to climate,
07:32community and social dynamics, and evolve with the people who use them. Rather than imposing fixed rules,
07:40I see architecture as a flexible platform that supports both present and future ways of living.
08:08My approach to basic pieces is strategy to organizational environments.
08:09You know, you're first of all on the design.
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