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

 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 August 24, 2026
In the vibrant Sukhumvit district, tender pink, graceful arches and refined minimalist design come together at Away Sukhumvit Bangkok , creating a playful yet sophisticated retreat for the modern traveler.
By G&G _ Magazine August 13, 2026
The international home and kitchenware industry will once again gather in Istanbul as ZUCHEX returns for its 36th edition on 9-12 September 2026 . Bringing together manufacturers, brands, buyers, retailers, distributors and sourcing professionals from around the world, the exhibition continues to be one of the sector's most influential international meeting points.
By G&G _ Magazine August 12, 2026
Set along the tranquil shores of Lamai Beach in Koh Samui, Ammatara Pura Pool Villas invites guests to embrace the philosophy of Raja Living. Here, architecture, hospitality and authentic Thai heritage come together to create an experience that feels less like a luxury stay and more like stepping into a royal way of life.
By G&G _ Magazine June 29, 2026
Building on What's Already There As this year's LIV Hospitality Design Awards winners settle into the wider conversation, certain patterns become difficult to ignore. Properties built for warm-climate escape recur across the list. Sustainability surfaces less as a stated goal than as a working method. And several of the strongest projects are renovations rather than new builds. Read together, the winners point toward where hospitality design is heading as the year continues. Designed for the Season Several of this year's winners speak directly to the season ahead. Kona Village , on Hawaii's Big Island, reimagines an 81-acre resort around the history of Kaupulehu, led by Greg Warner and Mike McCabe of Walker Warner. The rebuilt property includes 150 traditional guest hale, a new spa, and five restaurants and bars—two of which carry over from the original resort. Rather than a wholesale reinvention, the project reads as a continuation: a property rebuilt around what made the original site significant in the first place.
By G&G _ Magazine June 26, 2026
On Norway’s western coastline, where fjords, trade routes, and ancestral narratives have shaped generations, GCR Design AS / Gunvor C Røkholt approaches interior architecture as cultural stewardship. Recognized by Luxury Lifestyle Awards with the title of Best Contemporary Residential Interior Design in Norway for Project KYN , the studio’s work reflects a disciplined commitment to preserving heritage through active, contemporary use.
By G&G _ Magazine May 23, 2026
Recognized for its unique ability to create emotionally resonant spaces that are as visually striking as they are functionally intelligent, JAQUE has been nam ed Best Luxury Interior Design Studio in Arizona by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards in 2025.
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 August 17, 2026
Set along the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the Salil Hotel Riverside – Bangkok can be reached by its private boat, offering guests an arrival that feels less like a simple transfer and more like the arrival in a world of imagination, art and mythical creatures.
By G&G _ Magazine December 2, 2025
Situated in a prime location in the heart of the city, WestCord Eindhoven reveals its newly renovation that blends heritage, contemporary design, smart technology, and refined hospitality. The hotel’s refreshed identity marks a new chapter where history and innovation coexist, offering guests an elevated stay that feels both stylish and intuitively comfortable.
By G&G _ Magazine September 11, 2025
At M&O September 2025 edition, countless brands and design talents unveiled extraordinary innovations. Yet, among the many remarkable presences, some stood out in a truly distinctive way. G&G _ Magazine is proud to present a curated selection of 21 Outstanding Professionals who are redefining the meaning of Craftsmanship in their own unique manner, blending tradition with contemporary visions and eco-conscious approaches.