In This 750-Square-Foot Barcelona Loft, a Statement-Making Archway Is One of the Only Partitions
From the moment you enter this Barcelona loft, you feel a certain magic in this home that architect Isern Serra created for artist Pol Solà. Located in a former warehouse area of a 1970s industrial building, the entrance to the 750-square-foot loft is through a freight elevator. When you arrive, you pass through a service area where the bathroom is located. Then, after crossing the open kitchen, you enter the main space distinguished by its open plan and a half circle archway that provides the space with its unique personality.
The challenge for Isern was to transform this apartment and its stretched-out floor plan—it was previously an office—into a functional and appealing home with its own unique character. First, he listened to his client’s wishes. Pol said he did not want any kind of divisions or separate rooms, instead he asked Isern to create the quintessential loft, completely open. “It was an office space with a couple of partitions for a meeting room and a drop ceiling. We tore it all down to create a sense of pure open space,” explains Isern. “Now it is a home meets gallery; a space where I’d like to live myself,” he adds.
With the exception of the bathroom, there are no partitions or doors and the entire apartment is filled with natural light; in Isern’s words, “natural light is life.” The only internal division is created by the half-circle arch that leads to the bedroom. “It introduces a concept of sculptural architecture, of artistic space in itself,” Isern says. “It is something dreamlike that captivates you and, at the same time, it has a functional role, separating spaces.”
The apartment is furnished with a curated selection of pieces and others that Isern designed himself, which engage with the geometry of the space. He was successful at giving the loft an impeccable aesthetic without sacrificing functionality. The strategically placed touches of color, the meticulously chosen furniture, and the works of art—both Pol’s pieces and others by his friends—contribute to create a vibrant atmosphere, full of life and with a very personal touch.
The lighting design also adds an aesthetic power to the home. “We tried to illuminate the space with points of light. I didn’t want general, ambient light, and so we opted for table lamps and hanging ones at a low height where they mark corners and bring a warmth to the space,” Isern explains.
This loft is proof that even the most undistinguished spaces—like a former office—can be transformed into true oases. Isern has managed to create not only an aesthetic haven, but also an inspiring experience that combines art, functionality, and Mediterranean warmth in an unexpected place. The inviting home is an example of how intelligent design paired with a meticulous attention to detail can turn an ordinary space into something unique.
This Barcelona loft was first published by AD Spain. It was translated by John Newton.
Enric Badrinas1/13Artist Pol Solà has filled the apartment with life by creating a gallery of pieces from his art collection. On the shelves here are works by Patricia Peix, Mark Malarco, two copies of works by Magritte painted by Pol’s grandfather, sculptures by Ruda Echeverría and Pablo Alfieri, and a vase by Hay.
Enric Badrinas2/13The Cono table was among the items custom-designed by Isern for this project. “Following the concept of creating sculpture inspired by pure geometry, a cone shape was the basis of the worktable,” he explains.
Enric Badrinas3/13Like with the apartment’s shelves, the base of the sofa is made of wood, which adds warmth to the space. In front of the sofa, a coffee table by Cristian Herrera Dalmau. On the wall, a work by Simon Appel.
Enric Badrinas4/13A print by Sebastian Curi occupies a prominent place in the bedroom, sitting atop a bedside table.
Enric Badrinas5/13The hanging Milana lamp is by Jauma Ramírez for Marset. It helps to create a calm and serene atmosphere for this space free of visual noise.
Enric Badrinas6/13Another piece designed by Isern that straddles the divide between sculpture and furniture. “It is a game of different geometric elements: the sphere acting as a support for a circular plane,” he explains.
Enric Badrinas7/13The entire space is flooded with natural light thanks to the large open windows along the building’s facade.
Enric Badrinas8/13“There aren’t any surviving original elements to the loft except for the iron façade,” explains Isern.
Enric Badrinas9/13While there are no solid walls or doors in the space, these curtains hide storage and provide a feeling of warmth to the apartment.
Enric Badrinas10/13Behind the salmon-colored curtains, there is some practical storage space that allows the owner to make the most of every square foot of the home.
Enric Badrinas11/13Plants from the online Spanish store Mutant were given a key role in the design, adding freshness and a very Mediterranean feel to the space.
Enric Badrinas12/13Many small points of indirect light—table lamps and hanging ones too—help to create a cozy space. On the custom-designed wood shelf that acts as a base for the sofa, the Topuro lamp is by Mirabobo.
Enric Badrinas13/13Pol wanted a light and flowing space, without partitions or closed rooms, that would be able to house his art collection and function as an artistic space in its own right.
