Corrala Courtyard
Carrasco and Mancho discovered their home while searching for one for a client. Dating back to the 1860s, the building is in the Barrio de las Letras neighbourhood of Madrid and is in a typical corrala style, wherein housing units are arranged around a communal courtyard. The pair enjoyed the ample natural light and felt the space would be flexible enough to work with their “chaotic lives”. This turned out to be a good hunch, as the unit which was initially intended to function exclusively as their residence has since become their office as well, with up to four or five people working there during the week.
Repurposing Materials
After entering the apartment through a mirrored corridor with storage for shoes, you emerge into a large, bright, and open living room space. The footprint of the room is about the same as it was pre-renovation; however, openings were added to the wall separating it from the more private quarters, making everything feel more spacious and connected. Illuminated by the light of the three balconies, the main room has an abundance of plants and is organically divided by an angular blue section on the natural rubber floors. Much of the furniture around their living area is made from leftover construction materials found at worksites during their projects. This includes the circular marble slab of the coffee table, supported by recycled legs, as well as the concrete and other cement-like pots for their plants. They also selected a lightweight TV stand so it could be easily moved when they want to transform the room into their yoga studio.
Space for Coworking
One could be easily mistaken into thinking the room is double its size because of the mirrored splashback in the kitchen, giving the illusion that the space continues on beyond it. The couple decided to use open shelving to show off their beautiful plates and glasses (and to make it easier to find things), while they concealed the fridge and dishwasher within the oak IKEA cabinetry to keep the space looking clean. Carrasco explained how Mancho is not a fan of overhead lighting because of how it often feels “cold or boring”, so they decided to create their own fixtures out of IKEA bowls for a more cosy look. The dining area, with a large six-person table, doubles as a workspace shared with their coworkers during the week. In the mornings or on the weekends, the pair enjoys sitting out on the middle balcony to enjoy a coffee.
Fluid and Functional
You are drawn into the more private quarters of the apartment by way of an open passage and interior window that look onto a feature wall made of artisanal tiles. These openings help pull more light into this zone, which holds the bathroom, bedroom, and dressing area (almost like a large walk-in closet). Sited where the original kitchen was located, their so-called "bathroom cabin” contains the toilet and a shower with two showerheads so they can both use it at once. Carrasco and Mancho used the same curtains as those placed on the exterior of the balconies to insulate the most private areas when needed, beginning in the dressing area and leading all the way to the bedroom. The room prioritises fluid functionality but doesn’t lose sight of style, as seen in little touches like the custom oak lines added to their floor-to-ceiling IKEA wardrobes.
Carrasco and Mancho believe it is “worth sacrificing some privacy in order to have better light and more space”. Their delicate balance of opening up, through passageways, windows, open shelving, and closing off, through integrated appliances and concealed storage, leaves space for imagination and day-to-day adaptability.
Green thumb or not, you'll enjoy our round-up of plant paradises as seen in Plants Aplenty.
Images by Alberto Amores and Never Too Small
