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In Barcelona’s Clot neighbourhood, architects María Trabuchi and Eugenia Gatti of Estudio Dott transformed a once-cramped, seven room 42sqm/452sqft apartment into Carpe Diem—a calm, light-filled retreat. Designed as both María’s home and a creative experiment, the renovation opened up a formerly divided seven-room layout, uncovering original Catalan vaulted ceilings and introducing soft tones and natural textures. At the heart of the apartment, a flowing kitchen, dining nook, and living area are anchored by a custom island made for gathering and daily life. With flexible furniture, hidden storage, and thoughtful details—from microcement floors to handmade tiles—Carpe Diem is proof that small spaces can feel both expressive and expansive.

00:00-01:00 Introduction
01:00-01:42 Location
01:42-03:19 Floor Plan
03:19-03:45 Entrance
03:45-04:53 Dining Area
04:53-05:40 Living Area
05:40-07:05 Kitchen
07:05-08:09 Bedroom
08:09-08:45 Bathroom
08:45-09:23 Conclusion

#smallapartment #architecture #interiordesign

Ep 219
Project Name: Carpe Diem
Architect: https://estudiodott.es/

Produced by New Mac Video Agency
Creator: Colin Chee
Director: Nam Tran
Cinematographer: Alejandro Fabbri (sommos film)
Producer: Lindsay Barnard
Editor: Jessica Ruasol
Music: Artlist.io
Awakening by Ikoliks
Earth Lullaby feat. Mantrick & Flow with the Wind by Toti Cisneros

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Transcript
00:02This apartment has been my home for the past two years.
00:07I took it as a challenge, but also as a playful experiment,
00:13allowing us to explore different materials and products
00:16that we would not normally be able to do while working on appliance projects.
00:24We were inspired by Danish architecture,
00:27combining its minimalist concept with added color and clean lines,
00:33giving the space a vintage elegant style.
00:38I'm Maria Trabuqui, an architect and designer, and the owner of this apartment.
00:44I'm Eugenia Gatti, I'm also an architect and designer.
00:48Together we are co-founders of Estudio.di.
01:01The apartment is located in the Claude neighborhood.
01:06This area of the city has unique pedestrian streets,
01:10thoughtfully designed around the remains of all industrial buildings,
01:14with a lot of bars and coffee places where young people hang out.
01:22The apartment building was constructed in 1876.
01:28It is a multifamily residential structure squeezed between pre-existing buildings.
01:35The area doesn't have a lot of tall buildings, which makes this first floor apartment very bright.
01:43When we first found the apartment, the floors were covered in porcelain tiles,
01:47and there was a drop ceiling installed.
01:51It wasn't in its original condition, but the renovations look very dirty.
01:59Originally, the apartment had a traditional floor plan, with an enclosed kitchen,
02:04a separate living and dining area, a single small bathroom and three bedrooms.
02:09None of the walls were completely squared.
02:12To completely rethink the space, all partitions were demolished.
02:16This allowed us to create an open-plan entrance that unifies the kitchen, dining and living areas.
02:26Upon entering the apartment, you are immediately in the large open kitchen, living and dining area.
02:36Here, we placed a piece of furniture that serves as an entryway sideboard perfect for living your shoes, keys or
02:44everyday bags.
02:45When I host many people, we use it as additional seating.
02:52The open living dining room is my favourite space in my home.
02:56Natural light fills every corner, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
03:03The wooden beams with cuttle and bolted ceilings were a key factor in the design.
03:08Leaving them exposed allowed us to gain more ceiling height in these spaces,
03:13and since they are made of wood, they bring warmth to the ceiling.
03:19We matched the tone of the beams with wooden furniture to create harmony.
03:25The dining table bench is a multifunctional piece that serves as a gathering space
03:30and also provides storage inside.
03:35The in-between SK1 designer chairs were an incredible find.
03:41I discovered them discarded on a street in Sands.
03:45I personally restored them by sanding, varnishing and reinforcing their backrests.
03:53If needed, this area can fit between 8 and 10 people.
03:59The dining area flows into the living room with the continued use of light neutral colours that make the space
04:06feel more open.
04:09The masterpiece in this space is this large painting, which I ordered from my French friend Marina Dorgan.
04:17The artwork is inspired by Jose Ignacio, Uruguay, a place deeply special to me, and I love how it adds
04:24both colour and depth to the space.
04:29Maria didn't want a TV to be the focal point of the living room, so we decided to install a
04:35projector on the ceiling that doesn't take up space when not in use.
04:39Because there are both linen and blackout curtains, it can be used at any time of day.
04:47As Argentines, we believe that the kitchen is the centre of the home.
04:52It was important for me to have lots of seating as well as a lot of space for cooking, eating
04:58and hanging out.
05:02For the counter area, we chose the Calcutta Paonazo stone and combined it with light lacquer drawers.
05:12We decided to create a custom island in the centre of the space, where we placed the induction cooktop, the
05:19oven and plenty of storage.
05:22Instead of having a bulky unit in the middle of the apartment, integrated ventilation was key to make the space
05:29feel larger and more continuous.
05:31This allowed us to free up the walls and instead of doing upper cabinets, we decided to do open shelving.
05:39The kitchen's pendant lamps are replicas of Gino Sarfatti's iconic Italian design.
05:45They are made of acrylic, a material that withstands kitchen steam without getting damaged.
05:51The integrated fridge is completely hidden within the multifunctional storage unit.
05:57Above it, there is storage space for bed linens.
06:02We created a custom-built unit connecting the wardrobe, laundry and lower kitchen cabinetry.
06:11This space works as a dressing room and I usually keep the bedroom doors open to integrate the spaces.
06:21The main bedroom was designed to comfortably fit a double-sized bed with storage underneath for seasonal items.
06:29I wanted this space to feel calm, so I chose a light neutral pallet and decided to use circular shapes
06:37throughout the space.
06:39A circular opening connects the sleeping area to the rest of the house, allowing light and air to flow through
06:46it.
06:49The vintage pendant lights were the only item that I brought from my first apartment in Argentina.
06:56They are very simple, but I think that they were perfect for the space.
07:03The second bedroom is designed to comfortably accommodate a guest.
07:09When I'm alone, I usually use it as additional wardrobe space.
07:16We believe that the bathroom represents an intimate space, so in our designs we try to make it bolder than
07:22the rest of the apartment.
07:24We decided to cover the walls with traditional tiles from a local Spanish artisan,
07:30and the glossy finish pairs beautifully with the wood.
07:33We also decided to install a full height mirror over a ledge in order to create extra surface area in
07:41this small space.
07:43The custom wooden cabinet is paired with black fixtures that create contrast.
07:51At our studio, we believe that small spaces are not limitations, but opportunities to enhance creativity.
08:00We respect what already exists, and look for solutions that create a sense of spaciousness and versatility,
08:10resulting in welcoming spaces with a unique identity tailored to those who inhabit them.
08:17The other Four Parts
08:26Features of the müssen Sol atenção
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