An Old Stone Wall Props Up an Experimental Micro-Flat in Spain

The 323-square-foot apartment updates cave typology with bold colors and multifunctional spaces.

Madrid-based Gon Architects took some chances with the cheeky BYG House. In essence, the rentable flat is a modern portrayal of a Paleolithic dwelling. “Each room is a historical and symbolic representation of the cave,” say the architects.

The apartment juxtaposes machine-smooth texture with painted stonework, and it’s divided into three distinct spaces by the colors teal, yellow, and off-white. A shaded, portal-like entry doubles as a closet, fiery yellow warms the kitchen, and a wall of stone and wood beams defines the living area.

Photo by Imagen Subliminal

A Murphy bed drops to convert this space into a bedroom, while revealing a hidden bookshelf. It’s a space for work, sleep, entertaining, and relaxing. The cooking area, though narrow, is opened up by floor-to-ceiling mirrors, which conceal a bathroom clad in white tile. “The spaces reflect on classic dualities like public and private, inside and outside, and interior and exterior,” say Gon Architects.

Photo by Imagen Subliminal

Photo by Imagen Subliminal

See the full story on Dwell.com: An Old Stone Wall Props Up an Experimental Micro-Flat in Spain
Related stories:

  • An Architect Turns a Weathered French Farmhouse Into a Monastic Retreat for His Parents
  • Before & After: A Vibrant Remodel Tunes Up an Australian Bungalow for a Family and Their Pets
  • A 200-Year-Old German Farmhouse Gets a Quirky, Glass-Fronted Addition

Similar Posts

  • Saddle Peak Residence

    A completely transformative renovation opened this former tract home up to views, light, and its stunning outdoor setting. It’s all about the views, but this residence wasn’t always this way. What is now a metal and cedar stunner situated on a private, hilly enclave above Calabasas, was once a darkly lit 1960s-era generic single family home. A two-year renovation made a total overhaul for an entrepreneur and his wife, empty nesters with kids living nearby. The architect, Brian Wickersham of AUX Architecture in Los Angeles, didn’t change a thing in terms of the home’s footprint and rooflines; he couldn’t. “We initially looked at building a new home, but quickly learned that because of an ancient paleolithic landslide, that the county requirements for restraining the hill would be cost prohibitive and time-consuming—potentially five or more years,” says Wickersham. “Instead, we devised a plan to work within the existing house footprint and building envelope for a project that would be classified as a renovation.” In addition to these parameters, the homeowners tasked him with throwing out all of the old—down to the last salad fork—and bringing in everything new—all the while designing something where they could entertain a growing gaggle of grandkids. The result is a modern home that transitions from indoors to outdoors with the ease this property was intended for. “It’s about striking a balance between modest down-to-earth people and helping them realize they can be living a luxurious lifestyle,” says Wickersham. It’s about them living at a higher level of luxury.” A composition of dark standing seam metal and vertical grain cedar give the appearance of three cut pieces, shifted side-to-side, the wood being the cut face. The cedar siding also carries from outside to in, bringing warmth to the home and reinforcing the inside-outside connection. Solar panels, thermal panels to heat the pool, and a thermally coupled HVAC system enable the home to largely function off-the-grid.