Renowned for her yacht design expertise and technical prowess, German interior designer Kirsten Schwalgien has transformed the ground floor of listed local gem Casa Bures into a bespoke residence, complete with custom-made furniture and architectural design. The respectful yet bold renovation of this iconic space, renamed LoftBuresQ, has won Kristen Schwalgien Design prestigious international accolades, including The German Design Award.
One of the best examples of Modernista architecture in Barcelona’s Eixample district, Casa Bures was originally commissioned back in 1905 by Catalan textile magnate Francesc Bures and built by Gaudi contemporary Francesc Berenguer. Its striking façade, ornate entrance, stained glass roof and carved stone sculpted staircase are all stand-out features of the protected building, which was bought by Bonavista Development Company and turned into 26 residential apartments in 2014. Kirsten Schwalgien Design was commissioned to convert the ground floor apartment into a sophisticated primary residence with a timeless, masculine feel.
Formerly the warehouse and production site where horse carriages were stored, the 240m2 ground floor flat has now been transformed into a two-bedroom loft with a versatile, open layout that maintains the iconic elements of its past, as required by Barcelona’s Architecture Heritage Department, but also in line with Schwalgien’s own philosophy. The current design sees the original wooden door lovingly restored and all beams and pillars remain exposed, supporting the preserved ‘Volta Catalana’ (vaulted) ceiling. A sequence of industrial windows ensure insulation and allow natural light to pour through.
Typical of a Kristen Schwalgien Design project, almost every piece of furniture has been custom designed to match the client’s lifestyle and personal aesthetic, as well as the context of the space. Working with natural materials as much as possible, Schwalgien makes a point of highlighting their inherent unique features, a process that results in what she calls ‘unconventional beauty’. In the LoftBuresQ kitchen, for example, smoked chestnut cabinets are veneered and treated to keep the wood’s original tactile quality and emphasize its unique grain patterns. Another bespoke design, the dining table features a raw, untreated vintage brass top, with each leg made from primary materials used in the loft (including veneer Tulipie and smoked chestnut veneer).
“For me, it is very important to use materials that are long-lasting and age with grace—both because of their sustainability and because they enable you to provide the design with pure materials that have a style and character all of their own,” says Schwalgien.
Experimenting with innovative finishes, she alternates cold and warm, glossy and rough, soft and hard textures, to design spaces that stimulate the senses: throughout the loft, open-pore varnished veneer creates a satisfying contrast to original exposed brick walls, while the floors combine micro cement with parquet.
Schwalgien’s technical prowess and meticulous attention to detail garnered from 16 years of yacht design expertise shines through in the state-of-the-art technology installed, such as the bio-dynamic LED system built into the vaulted ceiling, blinds, and curtains that provide subtle lighting throughout the loft. The home automation system receives information from several sensors in order to adapt light, colour and brightness according to the time of day.
Her think-outside-of-the-box approach consistently maximizes space, privacy and aesthetics through clever design details, such as hidden sliding doors and a carefully concealed air-conditioned system. In the light-filled courtyard, an air shaft is completely covered by a vertical garden; and the master bedroom is separated from the living room by a box-like wooden structure that also houses a walk-in closet and a guest bathroom. Other bold, confident features of LoftBuresQ include the artworks, sourced and commissioned by Kristen Schwalgien Design, such as the neon sign above the kitchen wall, reading “May the bridges I burn light the way.”
Photography by Meritxell Arjalaguer.
For more like this bespoke residence, be sure to check out this luxury safari lodge.
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