Houzz Tours
Madrid Houzz: Tango and Friends in a Colourful Apartment
This retired homeowner turned to an architect known for his bold use of colour to create a joyful pied-à-terre in Spain
According to Gonzalo Pardo, an architect based in Madrid, Spain, in today’s world, living alone “is a symptom of a new social construct, typical of advanced cultures, which has an impact on how we view the concept of home”. Pardo is convinced that residential architecture is a distinct domain of his profession. He approaches it in a fun and provocative way, with a playful interpretation of domestic colour, expertly using hues with clear intention. He also listens to the needs of the client while meticulously leading the design process.
The first time Fontaine and Pardo met, she told him that she likes to get together with her two adult children (“a girl and a guy,” she says) and that she wanted “a space where she could host them”.
Fontaine also wanted a small kitchen, so she would be able to have her friends over for tapas. In impeccable Spanish – she was at a Spanish conversation class just before her interview with Houzz – the French owner told us that she likes to cook “food with lots of flavour and lots of spices”.
With a great kitchen and a blue cupboard that wraps around the small space, this pied-à-terre is completely tailored to Fontaine’s needs. It’s a place to enjoy life, tapas with her friends and the company of her children, as well as quality time to herself. It’s an apartment à la Gonzalo Pardo.
Fontaine also wanted a small kitchen, so she would be able to have her friends over for tapas. In impeccable Spanish – she was at a Spanish conversation class just before her interview with Houzz – the French owner told us that she likes to cook “food with lots of flavour and lots of spices”.
With a great kitchen and a blue cupboard that wraps around the small space, this pied-à-terre is completely tailored to Fontaine’s needs. It’s a place to enjoy life, tapas with her friends and the company of her children, as well as quality time to herself. It’s an apartment à la Gonzalo Pardo.
Colour was key to Pardo’s approach to this project. Doesn’t the intense blue – likewise, the vibrant red of the owner’s dress – in this photo convey that this is the urban refuge of an active and cosmopolitan woman who is passionate about tango and the ambiance of Madrid?
“You can’t get enough of colour,” says Pardo. “It’s a low-budget resource, which brings very good results. In this case, the owner was very clear that the colour she wanted was [RAL 5005 blue],” he says, citing the European colour-matching system.
Is your home in need of a revamp? Find an interior designer near you to breathe new life into your abode
“You can’t get enough of colour,” says Pardo. “It’s a low-budget resource, which brings very good results. In this case, the owner was very clear that the colour she wanted was [RAL 5005 blue],” he says, citing the European colour-matching system.
Is your home in need of a revamp? Find an interior designer near you to breathe new life into your abode
“In Spain, we are boring in our use of colour – especially us architects,” says Pardo, pointing out that when he opts for a colour in a studio project, he takes the space into account. “A light colour in a dark interior elevates the space. Sometimes, colour is also an act of provocation,” he continues, citing Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez, Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, and German-born artist Josef Albers as some of his many artistic references.
RAL 5005 – a blue similar to the one on Spanish traffic signs – acts as a magnet for the eye in this apartment and transforms the joinery, which extends throughout the very bright living area, into a distinctive feature. However, above all it is about functional design. Pardo is of the opinion that everything should have its place and that, “if you manage this, the home will be a success”.
“The blue box is the storage system of the house; both its heart and its soul,” he says. It draws attention but is also full of surprises. The biggest one is that it hides the home’s bathroom: “a stunning space,” says the owner. It also provides generous storage; it is where kitchen appliances and, of course, a large wardrobe are hidden.
The surprises don’t end there, however. The mirror just to the right of the entrance is actually the door to the bedroom. There is also another large mirror in the kitchen. “The mirrors in Dany’s house are doors to other spaces and with them, we sought to double the light, the amount of space and to create drama,” says Pardo.
The surprises don’t end there, however. The mirror just to the right of the entrance is actually the door to the bedroom. There is also another large mirror in the kitchen. “The mirrors in Dany’s house are doors to other spaces and with them, we sought to double the light, the amount of space and to create drama,” says Pardo.
It is also worth noting the lighting set-up, with fittings including the TMC floor lamp by Miguel Milá for Santa and Cole; the classic PH5 pendant by Louis Poulsen (both in the living room); and the red sconces by Charlotte Perriand, produced by Nemo. To top it all off, the storage unit is underscored with LED lighting, “close to it, but without touching it,” to define and highlight its size.
We also said earlier in the article that Pardo listens to the client and leads the project meticulously. “Dany is a born negotiator. To convince her of each solution we had to make many drawings and invest a lot of time talking to her. She has also listened to our advice and was onboard with every choice we made,” he said.
“The bathroom window, for example, was a solution that she really liked. We installed smart film, which is opaque when on and transparent when off.”
“The bathroom window, for example, was a solution that she really liked. We installed smart film, which is opaque when on and transparent when off.”
The blue box in the centre of the apartment is the protagonist of the floor plan.
Perhaps one could argue that Pardo’s architecture only works in small spaces. “I don’t agree,” he says. “It is more difficult to make a small house than a big one. We are now designing one that is 500 square metres and there are many concepts used in this flat that also work in larger spaces.”
Perhaps one could argue that Pardo’s architecture only works in small spaces. “I don’t agree,” he says. “It is more difficult to make a small house than a big one. We are now designing one that is 500 square metres and there are many concepts used in this flat that also work in larger spaces.”
Pardo acknowledges his love of spatial sequences and colour. He breaks down his understanding of the domestic space, and his priorities when executing a project, into four basic points: “the kitchen as the centre of the home; the de-hierarchisation of spaces: the atomised bathroom and the nameless rooms, that is, spaces that are capable of serving multiple purposes and which rise to the requirements of circumstance.”
At a time when many people have forgotten about the joy of living and the fact that our homes should be a place for relaxation, Pardo’s designs are only for those who wish to squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of their home.
Your turn
Would you brave bright colours at home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Missed our previous Houzz Tour? Catch up here with this stunning Paris Houzz: Elegance Meets Period Features in a French Apartment
At a time when many people have forgotten about the joy of living and the fact that our homes should be a place for relaxation, Pardo’s designs are only for those who wish to squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of their home.
Your turn
Would you brave bright colours at home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Missed our previous Houzz Tour? Catch up here with this stunning Paris Houzz: Elegance Meets Period Features in a French Apartment
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Dany Fontaine, who headed the French division of an international company and is now retired
Size: 40 square metres
Location: Madrid, Spain
Architect: Gon Architects
Dany Fontaine, the retired owner of this Spanish apartment, found Pardo’s professional profile on Houzz and sent him a message through the platform. “I came across Gonzalo’s Houzz profile by searching for ‘architects in Madrid’ on Google,” says Fontaine, who notes that what she likes most about Houzz is, “Seeing so many inspirational photos.”