A striking loft in Barcelona chooses Dekton to create the perfect seamless and underfloor heating

Allaround Lab

Plats

Poble Nou (Barcelona, Spain)

Material

Dekton

Applikation

Flooring, worktop, sofa frame

Mängd

155 m2

Arkitektur/design

Allaround Lab

Färg

Aeris

Slutdatum

2022

The view is almost supernatural: 120 spacious, open-plan metres in which, with the exception of one of the bathrooms, the only visible colour is white. The bold but exquisitely executed project is the work of the young, and already award-winning, Allaround Lab architecture studio. “We go for simple solutions to solve difficult problems, we commit to go beyond what is required and to sustainability”, the studio says.

In this case, the challenge was to convert an old warehouse in Poble Nou (Barcelona) into a multi-purpose and living space. “Our proposal is intended to carry out this transformation using what we call ‘the minimum elements to inhabit a place’, i.e., storage, wet areas and circulation, considering the entire volume and not only its surface area”, the studio explains.

Thus, through the layout of the different building elements that articulate the various spaces and minimal divisions, the studio gives special consideration to the void. In fact, the studio designed the upper floor hallway space as a square-shaped diagonal void which, despite its simplicity, allows cross views between all the rooms, including the rear façade from the staircase.

Dekton, the material of choice to reinforce the sense of continuity

This lack of elements is reinforced by the use of seamless materials and light colours, the aim of which is to obtain a bright, neutral and warm space. To emphasise that very contemporary sense of continuity, Allaround Lab chose Dekton, the ultra-compact surface by Cosentino.

“Dekton has been used on the floors throughout the house, with the exception of the bathroom on the first floor, in slabs designed to optimise its use and in accordance with the layout needs”, the studio explains. “Thus, 1590 x 1420 mm slabs were used on the ground floor, while on the first floor, a more compartmentalised space, 710 x 790 mm slabs were chosen”, the studio further says.

An elegant and efficient underfloor heating thanks to Dekton

Dekton surfaces have higher thermal conductivity than wood or linoleum, products traditionally used for underfloor heating, and therefore allows better heat transfer. In addition to this, unlike these materials, its expansion is smaller and its dimensional stability facilitates a perfect assembly, leaving a joint of only 2 millimetres, whatever the format used. In addition, an added benefit of the material is that it remains even over time.

Allaround Lab was fully aware of these characteristics and saw them as one of the many advantages of using Dekton for the project. “On the ground floor we installed underfloor heating and we thought that Dekton would be the perfect material due to its good performance with this type of heating; the result has been very satisfactory”, the studio says.

Dekton as a frame for built-in furniture: a choice full of possibilities

Beyond the use of seamless materials and light colours, the use of furniture, kept to a minimum and which has been a part of the project from the beginning, is another of the keys to this house. “The proposal highlights the importance of the space through its simplicity, the different textures of the materials used and the light, leaving aside any excess or ornamentation and focusing on responding to the needs of its inhabitants”, say the architects.

To achieve this, the studio opted for a few built-in pieces of furniture, choosing Dekton, for example, as the frame for the sofa. In addition, this Cosentino product was also chosen for the worktop, a single 3200 x 1410 mm piece. The worktop was edged and mitred with a 70 millimetre perimeter skirt, leaving the necessary holes for the sink, induction hob and tap.

Sturdy, continuous and durable: Dekton is the perfect choice for professionals

“Dekton has met our expectations: we were looking for a resistant, large-format material that could be laid with very small joints to achieve a sense of continuity in the floors. At the same time, it is sturdy enough for intensive use both on floors and on work surfaces such as the kitchen, enhancing the materiality of the project”, the studio says.

“We are very thankful for the assistance and support provided by Cosentino’s staff in Barcelona, who have been very quick in sending quotations and processing orders. Furthermore, in terms of delivery times and organisation, the outcome has been positive, we even had to order additional material for replenishment”, they conclude.