While this penthouse offers amazing views of Barcelona, Spain, it also came with one major challenge for the renovation team: The interior and the exterior were largely unconnected. Homeowner Daria Micu chose FFWD Arquitectes to renovate the apartment. “I’m tired of sitting on the couch and only seeing the inside. I want to enjoy city views, please,” Micu says she told them.

Apartment a Glance
Who lives here: Homeowner Daria Micu
Location: Ensanche, Barcelona, Spain
Size: 850 square feet (79 square meters) with a 290-square-foot (27-square-meter) balcony

Architect: FFWD Arquitectes

“The main goal of the renovation was to update the interior and use the space better,” Micu says.

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Before: Connecting the interior with the balcony was the first thing on the list, since a narrow sliding glass door provided the only access to the outside. The interior and the balcony were two unrelated spaces, and the apartment was dark.

After: To connect the two living spaces and create bright and light-filled interiors, FFWD Arquitectes had to transform the apartment.

Micu also asked the architects for an extra room. “We designed a new layout and not only did we open spaces up, we also created new ones. The apartment originally had two bedrooms and a bathroom, and now it has three bedrooms and both a full and a half bath,” says project lead David Benito.

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Large, open spaces improve the interior and provide a new focal point. “The owner specifically requested the fireplace. We installed a bioethanol fireplace, which doesn’t need any ventilation,” Benito says. It is integrated into the access step to the balcony, which also doubles as a TV stand.

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The interior is seen here from the balcony.

The renovation changed how the space was used. The wall is no longer a physical barrier separating the interior and exterior spaces. Now there is a continuous and uninterrupted connection between inside and out. Opening up the outside wall and adding more windows also enabled the architects to redistribute the interior space. The living room, kitchen and bedroom are alongside the large windows.

The sunroom on the balcony links the indoor and outdoor spaces. The glass ceiling makes it possible to enjoy the sun all year round. It acts like a greenhouse in colder weather, while in warmer weather it is pleasant and well ventilated.

The greenhouse acts as the dining room. “It’s the only one in the apartment. The owner didn’t want the dining room inside as she doesn’t use it often,” Benito says.

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“For me, it was very important to have a closed space on the balcony to enjoy year-round, to brighten up the apartment and make the living room feel more open and spacious,” Micu says.

Before: The space now occupied by the kitchen used to be the dining room and wasn’t well utilized.

After: The kitchen is now next to the balcony and opens into the living room.

The kitchen now offers great views, and the windows bring in a lot of natural light, which was missing when the kitchen was deeper inside the apartment.

“I wanted a kitchen that opens into the living room, to have more space when inviting friends over,” Micu says. “In fact, the kitchen is now my favorite part of the apartment, connected as it is to the balcony through large windows. This way, I can enjoy the views while cooking alone and when guests are over. I can still interact with them while I prepare our meal.”

The kitchen countertop extends into the hallway, where it’s used as a shelf for keys and other objects. “The owner already had a mirror in the hall and wanted to keep it there because she finds it practical. We chose a mirror with a more modern design to fit in with the new style of the apartment,” the architect says.

Before: This is the entrance before the renovation.

After: This space is now drastically different and much brighter. The whole space is open, but details such as the new floor and the extension of the kitchen countertop into the hallway cchange the perception of space.