Step Inside an Absolutely Stunning Barcelona Estate With Its Very Own Glass Pavilion
多年来,这1915 abode-l的内饰ocated in the heart of Barcelona—have continued to shift, thanks in large part to different generations of the same family who have continuously inhabited the space. The current inhabitant, who lived in the enchanting estate as a child, returned to the house after his wedding to begin a new chapter of his life. To help revamp and revitalize the grand residence, he turned to designer David Lawrence and architect Carlos Garciavelez ofCarlos David.
“The original design was like a lightened version, it was very traditional,” Lawrence. “There was a lot of color and rugs and darker pieces of furniture. As the owners have evolved, they’ve wanted their home to be a little bit more clean.” Or, “lighter and airer,” as Garciavelez puts it.
The current inhabitants happen to be two avid art collectors whose thoughtful collection highlights Spanish and Catalan artists. The colorful works that the couple owns helped inform the direction of Lawrence and Garciavelez’s vision.
“Our intention was to create serene and neutral spaces that provide layers of comfort while not distracting from the art—or the intricate stone and lacquer detailing of the interior architecture,” Lawrence says. “We strove to achieve this by using silk and cashmere fabrics, mixed with antiques spanning from the 18th century through the mid-20th century.” Ultimately, these elements are, the designer notes, “peacefully ensconced among prominent works by Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, Josep Guinovart, and Xavier Valls.”
But as much as the story of this home is one of art and decor, it’s also a tale that hinges on impressive architecture. On the grounds of the estate, a glass pavilion addition can’t help but stand out.
“This addition was designed to provide a sanctuary away from the daily humdrum of the main house,” Lawrence explains. “[It’s] a peaceful place where our client can spend time in the company of his books and nature.” The pavilion was a real passion project for the owner and for Garciavelez, who took much inspiration from the Barcelona Pavilion, designed by Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich.
当选择为th的位置属性is dream office-study space, it turned out that a majestic cypress tree was largely in the way. The Carlos David team convinced the owner to keep the tree and make it a part of the design. So, the tree remained undisturbed as the pavilion was constructed around it. Beyond creating a focal point, the tree took on a functional purpose. Acting as an organic cooling system, the tree’s canopy provides shade, protecting the glass roof from direct sunlight during Barcelona’s hot summer months.
“Designed to complement and blend in with the landscape, we used partially reflective glass with a green hue to reflect the garden. [There’s also] dark green powder-coating for the building’s steel frame, so that the structure looks almost invisible in daylight,” Lawrence says. “Green was also chosen as the color for the interior’s handmade terrazzo floor so, when the large sliding doors are opened, the grass visually continues.”
Thanks in large part to a client with such a discerning eye and strong point of view, every aspect of the glass pavilion tree house—from the vintage 1950s furniture to the rose gold metal of the horizontal blinds—has the utmost attention to detail. As Garciavelez observes, “Even at night, the glass house glows.”
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1/15Located in the heart of Barcelona, the estate has been in the owner’s family for generations.
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2/15The home was once covered in hardwood floors, but has since been updated with marble and local stone. A large Joan Miró painting hangs.
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3/15In the formal living room, the custom-made sofas are designed by Carlos David, upholstered inPierre Freysilk velvet, and the armchair is a vintageJoaquim Tenreiropiece, upholstered in Pierre Frey mohair velvet. The architectural model—a copula in Paris—sitting on the walnut coffee table is an antique from France.
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4/15A Miró painting hangs above the fireplace in the sitting room. The custom-made tufted back sofa designed by Carlos David, upholstered in Dedar silk, and a pair of silver-leaf Bergère chairs, upholstered inHermèssilk, are poised for guests.
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5/15In the dining room, the custom-made square split bamboo dining table was designed by Carlos David in collaboration withWyeth. The duo also designed the dining armchairs (made byAnthony Lawrence), which are inspired byJean-Michel Frankand upholstered inDedarvelvet. The large-scale painting of flowers is by Donald Sultan.
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6/15The kitchen maintains a serene quality thanks in part to plenty of stainless steel accents.
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7/15In the owner’s library, an ideal spot for solitude, the Pearwood desk, file cabinet, and armchair are all fromTresserra Collection.
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8/15“The bedroom feels like a monastery,” Garciavelez says. Continuing the theme of clean lines and rich materials, the room is draped in curtains made of Hermès silk taffeta. The curved back sofa designed by Carlos David is upholstered inHolland & Sherrywool sateen.
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9/15Every corner of the home is full of striking details. Here, in one of the bathrooms, sits a vintageMarcel Breuer B33chair surrounded by curtains inFortunyhand-blocked silk.
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10/15“We were really inspired by giving them a clean slate for their later years,” Lawrence says. “It was all about paring back.” In the dressing room, a vintage Tintin rocket sits among the warm wood.
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11/15A stately bathroom features impressive wood paneling.
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12/15With the view out the pool house bathroom, it’s clear that the magical property sits in the middle of the city. The mirror is designed by Carlos David, and the sculpture on the sink is byYoungmin Kang.
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Photo: Douglas Friedman; Styling: Amaya De Toledo13/15A view of the property, which sits at the foothills of the exclusive Sarrià neighborhood.
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14/15Remarkably, the construction of the glass pavilion only took eight months. It even worked out remotely—roughly 4,000 miles away.
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15/15There is little that is unremarkable in the glass pavilion. From the vintageJacques Adnetdesk to theOscar Niemeyer Alta chair, the leather, chrome, and steel add a strong aesthetic connection.
