La Dolors: recovered memory and new spatial fluidity with Silestone creating a narrative

The La Dolors residence in Barcelona started from a common situation in many old ground floors: a fragmented and outdated layout that hindered understanding the true potential of the space. A long and narrow corridor served as an inefficient circulation axis, disconnecting the different areas of the house, while the terrace — despite its size and possibilities — remained isolated from the interior, losing prominence in daily life.

The intervention began with a clearing process that allowed the recovery of the original structure of the property. The necessary metal reinforcements were not hidden but consciously integrated as part of the material identity of the project. By removing the existing coverings, the original masonry walls were revealed again, recovering the reading of the pre-existing construction system.

The new spatial layout is organised around a service core, which acts as a connecting element between the rooms. Alongside the existing structural wall, into which a sequence of arches was inserted, new circulations, cross-views, and more fluid relationships between the interior and exterior spaces are created. The residence is no longer understood as a sum of isolated parts but as a continuous and connected whole.

The materiality reinforces this new interpretation. A palette of green tones highlights the metal elements and interacts with the exterior vegetation, while the recovered ceramic vaults and neutral finishes create a serene and balanced atmosphere. White acts as a common thread, unifying the whole and accentuating the contrast between the existing and the new intervention.

In this context, the kitchen worktop was resolved with Silestone, a material chosen for both its technical properties and its colour. The decision was particularly motivated by its ability to integrate into the project's colour palette and its suitability for intensive daily use. As noted by the project, it is “a perfect material for use in worktops, with easy cleaning and low maintenance,” an essential quality in a home designed to adapt to new ways of living.

The result is a house that balances the preservation of architectural memory with a contemporary reinterpretation.