Casa Cometa: Madrid’s Floating Home Born from Near-Collapse.

When Emiliano Domingo of Bardo Arquitectura faced a collapsing roof in Madrid’s Tetuán neighbourhood, the solution wasn’t demolition—it was elevation. Casa Cometa, a 48-square-metre renovation with a 15-square-metre mezzanine addition, transforms a minor structural catastrophe into a work of design poetry.

The original construction had left the roof teetering on the edge of collapse, presenting Domingo with an unusual challenge: create additional living space while preventing the entire structure from collapsing. “We proposed adding a second floor that would solve the structural issues while also creating a new liveable space,” explains Domingo, whose approach tackles both problems with singular ingenuity.

The breakthrough came through collaboration with structural engineer Manuel Ocaña, resulting in what the architect describes as “a lightweight tubular structure with anchor points distributed across the entire surface.” This innovative approach eliminates stress concentrations whilst gaining rigidity—essentially stitching the roof together like a three-dimensional tapestry.

Break-through Basics: Unplanned Domestic Prototype in San Sebastián by Ismael Medina Manzano.

Breaking free from the rigid frameworks of 1960s Spanish architecture, this San Sebastián apartment renovation features a sculptural green ceramic wall, locally-sourced materials, and mobile furnishings.

The structural solution sparked the project’s defining concept. “The structure evoked a sense of weightlessness for me, like a kite floating in the air,” Domingo reflects. “That image inspired everything: the name, the materials, the colours.” This notion of weightlessness became Casa Cometa’s guiding principle, influencing every material decision throughout the 63-square-metre space.

The colour palette reinforces this floating sensation through careful stratification. Upstairs, sky blues and luminous creams enhance the feeling of lightness, whilst the ground floor anchors the composition with deeper tones—dark blues, timber, and terracotta. Between these zones, reflective materials including mirrors, glass bricks, and steel amplify natural light and accentuate the sensation of architectural levitation.

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Furniture selection from Espacio Betty supports the weightless aesthetic. HAY’s CP20 dining table pairs with Friz Hansen’s Ant and Grand Prix chairs, whilst Muuto’s Around coffee table and Soft Side table continue the refined material palette. Iria Martínez’s sculptures punctuate the space, adding artistic weight to balance the ethereal architecture.

Bardo’s approach demonstrates how structural challenges can become creative catalysts. Founded in 2021, Domingo’s practice uses geometry as a primary tool, seeking innovative solutions that reflect each client’s personal style whilst maintaining process efficiency. Drawing inspiration from diverse architectural references, including John Pawson and Carlo Mollino, the studio addresses all scales with sophisticated attention to detail.

Casa Cometa proves that constraints often produce the most creative solutions. What began as a structural emergency evolved into a meditation on weightlessness, creating a home that literally and figuratively rises above its challenges.

A Rundown House in Toulouse Becomes a World of Possibility for Gabrielle Vinson.

A rundown family home in Toulouse gets a contemporary update by Gabrielle Vinson, as the architect balanced preservation with practicality in a home that embraces its legacy.

[Images courtesy of Bardo Arquitectura. Photography by German Sáiz.]