Mediterranean apartment pairs oak joinery with travertine and steel

Located on Barcelona’s iconic Avinguda Diagonal, this apartment by De la Villa Studio transforms a fragmented residence into a fluid contemporary home defined by material continuity, spatial clarity, and a refined Mediterranean sensibility.

Set within one of the city’s most dynamic urban corridors, surrounded by design showrooms, commercial activity, and office buildings, the project responds to its cosmopolitan context through a calm and carefully composed interior. Madrid based De la Villa Studio approached the renovation with a focus on simplicity, warmth, and the expressive potential of natural materials.

The original apartment was characterized by a series of disconnected rooms, excessive circulation areas, and a lack of spatial hierarchy. The renovation completely rethinks the layout around a single central corridor that functions simultaneously as entrance hall, circulation spine, and organizing device.

This new spatial order establishes a clear distinction between social and private areas while improving movement throughout the home. A continuous floor of aged Mencía oak, laid with invisible joints, reinforces the sense of unity. Rich in texture and natural knots, the timber introduces warmth while anchoring the project within a contemporary Mediterranean aesthetic.

At the center of the social zone, an existing structural element was preserved and reinterpreted as a technical core connecting the kitchen and living areas. By concentrating services within this volume, the architects were able to eliminate unnecessary partitions and create a more open and visually connected environment.

The kitchen emerges as a sculptural object entirely clad in stainless steel. A large central island anchors the space, allowing circulation to flow freely around it, while integrated storage and full-height cabinetry maintain a clean and cohesive appearance. The reflective quality of the steel amplifies natural light and enhances the apartment’s overall luminosity.

Travertine elements introduce a tactile counterpoint to the metallic surfaces. Stone shelving and a travertine-clad cooking backdrop soften the composition, creating a dialogue between permanence and precision, warmth and reflection.

Beyond the kitchen, the living and dining areas continue the same architectural language. Existing structural elements are absorbed into bespoke joinery, accommodating kitchen storage on one side and a light oak media unit on the other. A continuous high skirting board runs through both spaces, subtly reinforcing their connection.

Within the dining area, an aged mirrored door conceals a fully integrated bar. Conceived as a discreet intervention, it introduces an element of surprise while preserving the overall calmness of the interior composition.

Walls finished with hand-applied water-based paint create subtle tonal variations that respond to changing daylight throughout the day. Together with the oak flooring, natural stone surfaces, and carefully curated furnishings, the materials establish an atmosphere that feels both contemporary and timeless.

The private areas unfold from the central corridor. Here, the design shifts in tone while maintaining material coherence throughout the apartment.

The guest bathroom introduces a more expressive identity through mustard-colored wall coverings and a bespoke Travertine Silver stone basin. The space acts as a visual counterpoint to the restrained palette found elsewhere in the home.

In the primary suite, the bathroom and dressing room are merged into a single continuous environment. Floating wardrobes and suspended stone vanities crafted from Emperador Buñol marble create a gradual transition toward the shower area. The same stone frames the entrance to the bedroom, functioning as a threshold that connects the different parts of the suite.

Throughout the apartment, natural materials serve as the foundation of the design. Oak, travertine, and Emperador stone are used with restraint and precision, creating a layered interior that balances texture, warmth, and durability.

Rather than relying on decorative gestures, the renovation achieves its identity through proportion, materiality, and atmosphere. The result is a home that feels calm, tactile, and deeply connected to the rhythms of contemporary Mediterranean living.

Project Credit

Project name: De La Villa Studio
Location: Avinguda Diagonal, Barcelona
Square Metres: 133 m²
Design Firm: De La Villa Studio | @delavillastudio
Photo: Marta Vidal