Via Augusta Duplex

Located in Barcelona’s upper area, with privileged views of Tibidabo, Via Augusta Duplex is a 290 m² home designed to accompany a new stage in life.

This interior design project was commissioned by an adult couple whose children had already become independent, and who wanted to transform their property into a home fully adapted to their current needs.

Therefore, the intervention was not only about updating the aesthetics of the home, but also about improving the layout, enhancing natural light and creating more comfortable, fluid and connected spaces.

The result is an elegant, sophisticated and deeply personal duplex penthouse in Barcelona, where interior architecture, noble materials, bespoke furniture and art pieces coexist in perfect balance.

A hall that anticipates all that is to come

One of the most defining elements of this interior design project was the staircase. Originally, it was very enclosed, narrow and poorly integrated into the home.

However, the new proposal was based on a clear idea: to open it towards the day area and turn it into an architectural element with its own presence, without making it feel ostentatious or overloaded.

In the entrance hall, oak wall panelling coexists with the natural stone used in the corridor and on the staircase itself. This material appears in skirting boards and door frames, creating a perimeter frame inspired by the marbled surrounds of Italian palaces.

Likewise, to add contrast and depth, the walls are covered with a textured wallpaper in coffee tones, which brings warmth and sophistication to the whole space.

Entrance hall and staircase: a sculptural first impression

The main transformation in this area lies precisely in the opening of the staircase towards the living room. Before, it was connected only to the corridor. Now, however, it opens onto the day area and becomes visually integrated into the main circulation route of the home. In addition, the creation of a new partition made it possible to incorporate an embedded backlit handrail, adding very subtle indirect lighting.

Throughout this area, small sculptural spaces have been designed with great intention. Under the staircase, a niche houses a decorative piece; at the end of the corridor, an artwork frames the perspective; and, as you go upstairs, a splayed window recalls the openings found in castles and churches, designed to capture and direct natural light into the interior.

Therefore, the staircase is not understood only as a circulation element. It also works as an aesthetic and functional piece. Its stone steps visually extend to form a console-like element that supports the dining area. In addition, taking advantage of the U-shaped staircase and the less usable space underneath, a crockery cabinet was designed with a mirrored panel finish. This creates an effect of depth and infinity that dialogues with the Lualdi sliding doors leading to the kitchen.

Ultimately, this area perfectly sums up the spirit of the project: architecture, art and functionality coexist through niches, perspectives, sculptural pieces and noble materials.

Living room with views of Tibidabo: openness, light and calm

The living room is completely oriented towards the exterior. As the home is a duplex penthouse located on the top floor of a high-rise building with a privileged views of Tibidabo. That become an essential part of the spatial experience.

In this room, the project involved integrating existing pieces belonging to the owners with new elements designed specifically for the home. Thus, the armchairs, rug and coffee table were kept in their original state, while the central pouf was reupholstered with a printed Pierre Frey fabric. In this way, a touch of colour and personality was added without losing the previous essence of the home.

Stone appears once again in the living room, this time as the finish for a sophisticated hidden bar cabinet. Next to it, a bookcase with a back panel in the same stone and oak uprights reinforces the material continuity of the project. To complete the lounge area, we designed a large bespoke corner sofa in off-white, combined with decorative cushions in sand and mustard tones.

At the centre, a large occasional table with mitred edges, made from the same oak wood used throughout the home, finishes the space and brings coherence to the whole composition.

Dining room: a central piece within the day area

The dining room is presided over by an elegant round Carlo table, custom-designed by our team and made entirely from oak wood. It is paired with Midj chairs fully upholstered in Dedar fabric. In addition, the composition is intentionally framed by the owners’ mustard rug and crowned by a majestic Bocci pendant lamp.

This area is also where the two recessed ceiling coves that run through the day area can be best appreciated. Both follow the alignments of the space and end in rounded edges, in harmony with the organic and sinuous lines that define the project.

On the one hand, the first ceiling cove frames the staircase and dining area until it reaches the side wall, allowing the corridor to be illuminated while visually wrapping the staircase. On the other hand, the second, larger cove defines much of the living room and reinforces the feeling of spaciousness.

Kitchen: a space connected to the living and dining area

In the original layout, the kitchen was located in the bedroom area. However, the clients wanted a more participatory kitchen, connected to the living area and designed to be enjoyed every day. Therefore, we decided to relocate it next to the living and dining room. Thanks to this change, the home gained visual connection, functionality and a significant amount of natural light from the balcony sliding doors.

The island becomes the heart of the kitchen. It houses the cooking area, equipped with Pitt Cooking gas burners integrated into a distinctive ABKstone worktop. The extractor hood, recessed into the ceiling, helps maintain a clean and lightweight image.

The worktop, in white tones with strong dark and golden veining, was carefully selected to add contrast, character and a sophisticated touch. Likewise, the island combines an oak structure with a crockery area in fluted glass. The composition is completed with high Molteni stools and a sculptural golden pendant lamp, which presides over the office area and reinforces the elegant character of the kitchen.

The rest of the space combines different finishes. The wall units are made of oak, while the lower modules are finished in Fenix. In the water area, the backsplash is clad in Living Ceramics porcelain, providing continuity and resistance. In addition, the Gaggenau microwave and oven are integrated into a side column.

One of the most distinctive design details is the ten-millimetre oak frame around the kitchen units. It is a subtle feature that adds depth, precision and a particularly refined finish.

Unlike the rest of the main floor, where plank parquet flooring is used, the kitchen features the same porcelain as the backsplash, this time in a large-format version. As a result, an elegant transition is created towards the dining room, separated by Lualdi sliding doors with bronze profiles and smoked glass.

Night area: two different suites with a shared design language

One of the main challenges of the home was its geometry. The floor plan is not completely orthogonal, and one of its façades is angled, which added complexity to the layout, especially when resolving corners and transitions. Instead of hiding this feature, we decided to use it to adjust shower areas, bedroom endings and textile solutions that help soften the architecture.

The night area includes two bedrooms configured as independent suites, although both share an access area. Upon entering, you first access her dressing room, while the other dressing room is integrated within the second suite.

Both bedrooms share certain design resources, but they differ through their colour palette and use. On the one hand, the masculine bedroom is conceived as a space for rest, reading and retreat, with a darker and more enveloping atmosphere. On the other hand, the feminine suite is designed as a more intimate, luminous space connected to personal care.

Dark-toned suite: rest, reading and sophistication

The first bedroom, with a more masculine character, is composed around a panel-style headboard upholstered in navy blue fabric. The bedside tables, made from the same wood as the headboard and parquet flooring, reinforce the visual continuity of the space.

The decorative accent comes from the cushions and bedding, made with printed fabrics by Dedar. In addition, the composition is completed with a silk and wool rug, a beige bench at the foot of the bed and a combination of Aromas lamps in black and gold tones, which blend naturally into the bedroom’s aesthetic.

In this suite, the textile-clad wardrobes in blue tones stand out especially. The doors, framed with ten-millimetre profiles, add elegance while also functioning as integrated handles. A television was also incorporated, responding to a specific request from the clients, along with a modernist bench belonging to the owners, which was reupholstered to fit the overall design. Finally, this piece became a small reading corner within the bedroom.

In the bathroom, the main feature is the washbasin, made entirely from dark porcelain with white veining and integrated with a custom-cut basin. The use of large-format porcelain on both the walls and shower area creates continuity and a very enveloping image. In addition, the dark smoked fittings reinforce this masculine and sophisticated aesthetic.

Light-toned suite: intimacy, light and personal care

The second suite follows a completely different language. Here, light tones, soft textiles and a brighter atmosphere take centre stage. However, the common thread with the other bedroom lies in the wardrobe design, which also incorporates ten-millimetre uprights and textile-clad doors.

In this case, horizontal bands, a handbag display cabinet and a mirrored wall panel were also added, allowing the dressing room to feel larger while introducing a special aesthetic detail.

The bedroom is structured around a wingback-style headboard, with a slight inward inclination, upholstered in beige velvet. This piece wraps around the white melamine bedside tables and creates a very comfortable feeling of retreat.

The Terzani pendant lamps add delicacy and verticality, while a warm white rug helps frame the bed area. Finally, the touch of colour comes through the bedding, made with a combination of Andrew Martin fabrics.

The bathroom in this suite is conceived as a semi-open space. The washbasin and vanity area remain visible from the bedroom, while the shower is located in a more sheltered side area. Here too, we chose a porcelain washbasin with dark veining by Inalco and a custom-cut basin, combined with a bespoke storage module to increase capacity.

One of the most special gestures in this bathroom is the vanity area, located next to the sliding door. The entire wall is covered with mirror, which reflects and multiplies the natural light coming from the window on the opposite side. The wall covering, in Margres porcelain, is combined with a custom-designed framed mirror and Elma wall lights by Aromas.

Upper floor: a space designed for sharing

On the upper floor, the outdoor area is the main protagonist. To create greater visual coherence and reinforce the sense of continuity between interior and exterior, we chose Beren Biscuit large-format porcelain flooring by Living Ceramics. This material, which we have already used in other projects, stands out for its versatility, resistance and serene aesthetic.

Compared to the main floor, this level is conceived in a lighter way. Here we find a secondary living room, a bathroom and a guest bedroom. Therefore, the presence of wall panelling is reduced, and a softer aesthetic is sought through lighter pieces and a more relaxed atmosphere.

Upper living room and study: a flexible area

Upstairs, there is a living room with a study area, configured through a combination of bespoke furniture and pieces belonging to the owners that were relocated within the new proposal, such as the artworks and rug.

This space works as a more informal and flexible area, designed both for relaxation and for moments of work or reading. In addition, its connection with the upper floor reinforces the more social and relaxed character of this level.

Guest suite: comfort and privacy with a hotel feel

In a more enclosed and private area, we placed the guest bedroom. This space is inspired by a hotel suite, with a freestanding bathtub integrated into the bedroom itself.

Although this type of piece is traditionally associated with the bathroom, here it becomes part of the bedroom atmosphere in order to make the most of the views and create a more sophisticated rest experience, almost like a premium suite.

To add comfort and warmth, we chose carpet flooring and combined black-and-white patterns. On the one hand, geometric shapes appear on the bed and on the fabric wainscot, made with Gastón y Daniela fabric. On the other hand, the wallpaper behind the bathtub, by the French brand Pierre Frey, reinforces the feeling of connection with the exterior.

Outdoor terrace: an open-air living space with views of Barcelona

The great highlight of Via Augusta Duplex is located on the upper floor: an 80 m² terrace that wraps around two sides of the home. The main challenge in this space was to solve sun protection and wind exposure. As it is a penthouse located in a tall building and this floor has no shutters, a significant greenhouse effect was created.

To solve this, we designed a large visor-like pergola that covers the entire perimeter where the sun has the greatest impact. This structure, conceived specifically for the project, extends to the facade parapet through steel uprights.

One of its most special features, in addition to its grid design, is the 45-degree rotation of the structure. This same gesture is replicated in the layout of the porcelain floor tiles, creating a highly interesting aesthetic detail and a visual connection between architecture, flooring and furniture.

The pergola had to be as lightweight as possible, as part of its weight rests on the façade. For this reason, the uprights and support elements were made of steel, while the horizontal grid structure was resolved in aluminium. To ensure stability, fixed bar-like tension elements were added to keep the structure safe and firm.

Another important aspect was protection from the sun and wind. To achieve this, the pergola incorporates a tensioned fabric that covers the perimeter, creating shade without completely blocking airflow and thus avoiding the sail effect.

Outdoor kitchen and open-air lounge areas

The language of the pergola is also transferred to the outdoor kitchen. The grid is reinterpreted as diagonal lines on the upper modules, behind which the extractor hood is hidden.

In terms of materials, the terrace maintains strong aesthetic coherence. The same porcelain is used on the parapet, the walls and the outdoor kitchen, creating a continuous, clean and highly integrated image.

The outdoor kitchen consists of a worktop equipped with a barbecue area, sink, dishwasher and integrated refrigerator. Right in front, a small island turns the space into a more participatory area, accompanied by Talenti stools.

As for the furniture, the terrace includes a large outdoor dining area, equipped with a Talenti table and chairs. On the other side, several lounge and chill-out areas are distributed, also with furniture from the same brand, together with planters and greenery that add freshness and help soften the architectural presence of the terrace.

Full renovation of a duplex penthouse in Barcelona

Via Augusta Duplex is a project that transforms a compartmentalised and underused property into a spacious, elegant home deeply adapted to its owners.

The intervention not only reorganises the spaces, but also builds a new interior narrative through light, noble materials, bespoke pieces and the integration of art into small everyday gestures.

The result is a sophisticated, comfortable and serene home, designed to enjoy both daily intimacy and shared moments.

Ultimately, it is a duplex penthouse in Barcelona with a contemporary soul. A place where each space responds to a  need and every detail contributes to creating a more fluid, personal and timeless living experience.