Bilbao Apartment Revived with Midcentury Soul and Geometric Details

A young family in Bilbao enlisted the Donezar Lara studio to restore their historic apartment, preserving its original geometry and color palette while adapting it for modern living.

Architects Preserve Midcentury Elements in Bilbao Renovation

The apartment, located in Segundo Ensanche, had accumulated decades of modern modifications, obscuring its original character. Architects Irene Vitorica Donezar and Ane González Lara were tasked with reviving the space, drawing inspiration from Italian architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni’s 1960s Milan apartment.

Key elements preserved included custom woodwork, green Macael marble countertops, wooden doors, and artful window frames. Initially, the team planned to remove all internal walls, but discovered original herringbone parquet flooring beneath a carpet, leading them to retain most of the original floor plan.

The renovation incorporated a custom white linen sofa, a Benka artwork from Alzueta Gallery, and a Kazuhide Takahama armchair for Simeone Gavine. The Donezar Lara studio also designed the round and coffee tables. A 1970s ceramic vase from Judith San Quintín and natural quartzite countertops added to the kitchen’s charm.

“The renovation doesn’t impose itself on the original architecture,” said Donezar. Interventions were designed to appear natural and flowing. The project involved converting the principal bedroom into a laundry room and the service entrance into a bathroom.”