This Marina Apartment in Barcelona is the Ideal City Weekend Apartment

This Marina Apartment in Barcelona offers the ideal city weekend experience. Designed by Cometa architects, the 56-square-meter space is chic, stylish, and compact. The architects deconstructed the space, removing interior walls and opening up the wall to the outdoor terrace, optimizing the views.

The residence is on the top floor of a popular leisure area, attracting both tourists and locals of all ages. The Marina district features Mediterranean beaches, water sports, and numerous restaurants. Constructed in 1991 as part of the Olympic Village, it houses 740 yacht berths.

Perfect for two, this vacation home underwent a radical apartment remodel based on naval principles: maximization of space and elimination of excess. Essentially a square box, the home is structured around a central “cabin” that houses essential equipment, plumbing, and laundry, as well as the toilet and closets. This cabin also serves as a partition between the kitchen and the living and sleeping areas, which are further delineated by expansive sliding glass panels.

The interior walls are fully done in concrete and topped with light gray microcement, inspired by the marina’s raw concrete docks. Exposed copper pipes and fixtures run throughout the space, serving as a contemporary design element that unifies all sections of the apartment. The copper adds warmth and functionality to the starkly minimalist design.

To maintain a minimalist look and avoid design issues, underfloor heating was incorporated so that radiators are not needed. This minimalist design style makes small spaces feel spacious and highly functional by focusing on necessities and eliminating cluttering visual elements.

Most kitchen elements, except the sink and cooktop, are concealed behind door walls without any hardware. This maintains the clean look of the space. Ceiling fixtures provide extra light at this end of the kitchen.

The only identifiable element is a small and chic wine cooler situated above the refrigerator.

The kitchen island appears more like a furniture piece than a traditional island. The legs maintain an open and airy feel by not fully covering the floor. The minimalist aesthetic is emphasized by the absence of other kitchen equipment.

A minimalistic setting of concrete walls sets the stage for the kitchen area, where the copper piping stands out as the sole source of warmth. This same metal is echoed in the kitchen faucet hardware, and its presence in all the lighting fixtures enhances its visual impact.

The home’s water-using areas are emphasized by the bathtub and kitchen island, which are the only large, white pieces in the home. These are the only standalone furniture items, as the rest of the living and sleeping spaces are integrated into the apartment’s structure. The home’s storage consists solely of a custom wooden centerpiece and integrated closets that disappear when not in use.

Despite its small size, the terrace extends the usable area with large sliding glass doors that serve as the exterior wall. This combination doubles the space, allowing for plenty of natural light and gentle sea breezes. Additionally, an ample window by the bed adds light to the back side of the central unit.

Another example of built-in elements is the bed and headboard combination. The mattress base is sunken into the floor and the headboard provides everything needed for the bedside. Copper lamps are attached to the wall and outlets are incorporated on both sides of the deep headboard, which replaces nightstands.

Additionally, the low window seat includes drawers for extra storage.

All lighting fixtures and hardware for the standing faucet by the tub are finished in copper. Using a single metallic finish unifies the space with a modern flair, drawing the eye from one area to another. The tub provides a bird’s eye view out the window and is still private, being set back from the main part of the space.