Catalonia, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

PRICE REDUCED - Exciting opportunity in the heart of Barcelona with this converted warehouse,built in the early 1960's, with a permit for residential use, close to the Sagrada Familia.

The stone property comes with living space of almost 300m2 on a plot of 176m2 and is spread over 2 levels.

Prior to the conversion it was at some pointused as factory for producing electrostatically coated work pieces. Fallen into disuse since 2008, the current owners/renovators purchased it in 2015 with the idea of creating an industrial "secret garden", where a family could live in comfort and enjoy their treasure trove behind an unassuming facade. The high amperage accumulators used for the electrostatic coating when the warehouse operated as a factory, have been preserved and converted into storage cupboards, as has other equipment, that today alludes to the past life of the building.

The facade has been subtly altered to create a garage door and separate entrance. It has been repainted to look worn and dated, as if nothing has been done to the building since 1961. This of course is not true, as can be evidenced by all the work done inside of the building, which has seen a ground up renovation, respecting the original features and marrying modern technology with design elements spanning many decades. The volume and light of the ground floor impresses most. The space is open plan and flexible with the lucky inhabitants migrating through the various focal points fashioned by the furnishings during the day and according to the atmosphere created by the passing of daylight through and over the building.

The garage offers ample space for two cars as well as other storage, taking full advantage of the 3m80cm ceiling height. It is separated from the rest of the house through two stained glass sliding doors - re-appropriated from another old building. Should an owner choose, the doors can remain open creating an integral space of very large proportions.

Coming in from the garage the inhabitant is greeted by an antique French billiards table, which in a prior life had adorned the recreational room of one of the more exclusive private banks of the city. There are two sofas and a Shiro Kuramata Moon chair creating a relaxing space to sit at this split level. Walking down a small ramp, the ceiling heights actually increase towards the back of the building where they reach 4m25cm.

At this maximum volume point, one can find the K14 style new Boffi kitchen with black granite top as well as two tables both antique. One is of metal with provenance from a factory in the South of France and the other is made of wood and displays a small collection of valuable globes. There is a further sitting area, next to the operational fireplace, with Winchester style sofa and armchairs over some antique Persian carpets.

There is a small room housing a fuzzball table accessed through saloon- style doors and a WC enclosure made out of an apothecary's old wooden medicine cabinet. The far corner of the room is dominated by an enormous tank, left over from the days when the loft operated as a factory.

Electrical lighting is provided by a combination of L. E. D. strips, floor lights, converted stage lights, two Poulsen wall lights and a Poulsen ceiling light from the early 20th century. A canopy over the kitchen, but once part of the stained glass doors separating the garage from the living area, is lit by hidden L. E. D. strips.

Up the stairs one passes a small room at the mezzanine level of circa 10m2 with a glass floor and wall, allowing the occupier to observe either the fuzzball game below or the kitchen. It has been used as a guest bedroom or kids TV/games room. Continuing up the stairs to the first-floor landing, one finds oneself with a choice of going to the far side of the building to access the master bedroom and first floor terrace or the street side to the remaining other two bedrooms and bathroom.

The master suite with Boffi bathroom and exclusive access to the terraces, both on this floor and above, approaches a size of 50m2. The remaining bedrooms at least 15m2. m. each with windows to the street, have double beds, a desk and chest of draws.

REFERENCE: 226224