After a bright and airy makeover, it is hard to imagine that this loft was once an old garage.
Madrid-based Italian architect and designer Teresa Sapey embraced the task of transforming a former garage into a living space. Located in the heart of Madrid, the loft is home to a couple and their daughter. Endearingly called Loft Bordeaux, the name is a romantic gesture by the homeowner, whose wife wanted it to be named after the French city where they first met. As with a typical garage, the original space was dreary and cold.
“In order to convert it into a living space, the most important task was to bring light into every inch of the house,” says Teresa. One of the solutions that she came up with was to introduce skylights. “As the garage is surrounded by apartment blocks, the only way was to create zenith windows on the roof,” she rationalises.
But, as the garage space is fairly sizeable at 500 sq m, skylights alone were insufficient. This led Teresa to propose the idea of a courtyard around which the rooms would be distributed. She considers this the best solution.
The loft is divided into two zones – one comprising the living and dining rooms, kitchen, cellar and guest room, while the other is the owner’s private realm, where the master bathroom, indoor swimming pool and gym are connected to the master bedroom through a dressing room.
Vinyl lettering in French that says, ”I don’t like cooking”, adds a touch of humour, as the mistress of the house does not like to cook, but wanted a large and modern kitchen.
Round coated metal cavities of different sizes are used for bottle storage, blurring the boundaries between art and function.
The metal roofing and cladding were painted black to highlight their presence and provide a counterpoint to the white walls.
The bedroom opens out into the courtyard, introducing natural light into the interior.
The gym and indoor pool are connected to the master bedroom through the dressing room.
The spacious entertainment room is housed in an attic-like space with a high ceiling.
The washbasins are mounted on a vanity suspended from the ceiling, which creates a floating effect.
This loft is indeed a labour of love, that has been turned from a decrepit garage into a cosy and welcoming home for the family of three.
Written by Lynn Tan.
- TAGS:
- Bold Colours
- Bright and Airy