The Magic Box Apartment

April 28, 2021

In a two stories old family house located in the center of Viladecans, an industrial town located in the Barcelona belt, Raúl Sánchez Architects renovated the ground floor destinated for a couple and their two daughters.


The house, with a corner location, is characterized by a structural wall that runs longitudinally and creates two well-defined bays on each side. From the beginning, it was decided not to intervene on the structure, so this wall became a backbone of the new proposal, which did contemplate the demolition of the rest of the interior partitions. In this way, from the entrance, a spacious hall opens, made up of a series of planes/partitions that twin with each other, announcing from the entrance that it is a new language, also opening gaps in the upper areas to allow the light from outside enters this area. Next, a common kitchen and dining space connects to the outside garden, with profuse vegetation, which was respected, connected to the inside through a longitudinal bench that slides into the window opening (enlarged with respect to its original size). The window itself was placed on the exterior face of the facade plan, turning it invisible from the interior, creating the feeling of being in close contact with the exterior.


  • Titolo diapositiva

    Scrivi qui la tua didascalia
    Pulsante
  • Titolo diapositiva

    Scrivi qui la tua didascalia
    Pulsante


On the other side of the load-bearing wall, a continuum of rooms is developed, which communicate with their own doors with the access area and the kitchen-dining room; but they also communicate with each other by means of alternative connections, which increases the spatial experience and the interior complexity of the house, since there are always two ways to get to the same place. There are four rooms (three bedrooms and a living room) and three service areas between them. The two smaller bedrooms, intended for the daughters, are actually one same space, in which the magic box is located in the middle: an abstract volume, like a jewelry-surprise box, made of brass, golden and shiny, which encloses the wardrobes, but also a secret passage between the two bedrooms through its central door. This magic box has a height of 210cm (the ceilings are 350cm), and can be climbed on top, making it a place for the girls. The requirement to design a special space for the daughters was present from the very first moment of the project, hence the project itself takes its name from this element.



The material strategy is restricted, but it influences the subtle spatial changes of the project: the flooring of the rooms is made of wood, but it changes its direction on either side of the load-bearing wall; in service areas (bathrooms and lobbies between rooms), the floor changes to white microcement, marking the transition between spaces that these areas represent; brass pretends to be a special material of a precious but mysterious object; lintels and jambs are clad in stainless steel to mark the passage of spaces that, despite being open to each other, change their function (the passage from the entrance hall to the kitchen-dining room; the passage from the kitchen-dining room to the living room ). Finally, a few color interventions were carried out, which subtly highlight the transition between spaces, aligning the color marks with the extension of axes, some of them visible (aligned to constructed elements), and others invisible (corresponding to elements of the design process).



Photography  José Hevia
Interior Design  Raúl Sánchez Architects  www.raulsanchezarchitects.com  @raulsanchezarchitects

SHARE THIS

 Latest Edition

Mar / Apr 2026 edition is available now!

 Contribute

G&G _ Magazine is always looking for the creative talents of stylists, designers, photographers and writers from around the globe.

WRITE US

 Find us on

Latest News

By G&G _ Magazine April 10, 2026
Held in two phases, from March 18–21 and March 28–31 at the Canton Fair Complex, the 57th edition of CIFF demonstrated how design is no longer something merely displayed but something to be fully experienced through the senses: deconstructed, re-engineered and ultimately redefined in its deepest essence: matter .
By G&G _ Magazine April 6, 2026
Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) is pleased to announce it will be returning to London’s EC1 on the 19 – 21 May 2026. Marking the 15th anniversary of this global design festival, a new curated series of largescale installations will be launched called Design Interventions .
By G&G _ Magazine February 24, 2026
From 5 February to mid-March 2026, across three emblematic locations in Madrid — Institución Libre de Enseñanza, Plaza de Colón and FORMA — LOEWE Perfumes presents Crafted Garden , an immersive installation conceived for Madrid Design Festival 2026 . The project unfolds as a sensory journey inspired by Renaissance gardens, bringing together nature, fragrance and contemporary craftsmanship in a multi-layered exploration of design and olfactory culture.
By G&G _ Magazine February 19, 2026
At a time when design is redefining its priorities, the contemporary landscape of interiors, décor, and outdoor living is clearly shifting from a digital-centric vision toward a more human, emotional and nature-driven approach. This transition was strongly evident during the latest editions of Warsaw Garden Expo and Warsaw Gift & Deco Show , held at Ptak Warsaw Expo from 10th to 12th February 2026.
By G&G _ Magazine February 3, 2026
Merav Bustan, founder of the Berlin-based design studio bearing her name, is the creative force behind the interior design of the new boutique hotel, VIA Antwerp , located in the vibrant heart of the Zurenborg district.
By G&G _ Magazine January 28, 2026
From January 18 to 20, 2026, Destination Design confirmed itself as a key observatory for contemporary living where design is no longer just about form or function, but about emotion and adaptability for the future.
MORE

 Subscribe

Keep up to date with the latest trends!

Receive a dose of inspiration directly into your mailbox!

 Popular Posts

By G&G _ Magazine March 9, 2026
Between February 6 and March 8, Madrid Design Festival 2026 offered an intense program of exhibitions and events across the city. Throughout these days, it was possible to perceive the evolution of the festival, which expanded its program by integrating professional talks and meetings, revealing a strong desire among industry professionals to share the new Spanish approach to design with the world.
By G&G _ Magazine March 6, 2026
In a world where many hotels rely on polished aesthetics and predictable luxury, Piet Hein Eek offers a radically different vision. One of the most influential Dutch designers of the contemporary scene, Eek has built his reputation on redefining design through reuse, craftsmanship and imperfection. At the heart of this ecosystem lies the Hotel Piet Hein Eek - a project that embodies his philosophy and invites guests to experience design not as a static object, but as a living environment.
By G&G _ Magazine February 24, 2026
From 5 February to mid-March 2026, across three emblematic locations in Madrid — Institución Libre de Enseñanza, Plaza de Colón and FORMA — LOEWE Perfumes presents Crafted Garden , an immersive installation conceived for Madrid Design Festival 2026 . The project unfolds as a sensory journey inspired by Renaissance gardens, bringing together nature, fragrance and contemporary craftsmanship in a multi-layered exploration of design and olfactory culture.