Smart Material Moves Transform This Fragmented Madrid Apartment.

Sometimes the best renovations don’t scream for attention—they just work beautifully. Casa Nicasio in Madrid is exactly that kind of project, where Plantea Estudio turned a chopped-up 1970s apartment into something a lot more livable.

The original place was a mess. Think dark rooms, weird angles, and that particular kind of 70s brutalist building that makes you wonder what architects were thinking back then. Located on Madrid’s central Monteleón street, this apartment had been carved up into tiny spaces that fought against how people actually want to live.

Plantea’s fix wasn’t about flashy moves or hot-right-now materials. Instead, they focused on three simple things: light, flow, and character. Sounds basic, but getting all three right takes real skill.

A Half-Local, Half-Global Restaurant in Madrid by Plantea Estudio.

Llama Inn has nothing to do with llamas. But its character is every bit as curious. The Peruvian restaurant is spread across two floors of a classic corner building in Madrid. But it is anything but classic—and anything but Madrid.

The entrance sets the scene perfectly. Rather than just a hallway, they made it a proper room—square-ish and welcoming. It’s the first thing visitors see, and it tells them this place is calm, but it still has personality.

The living areas face the tree-lined street, where the team created what they call “through spaces.” North-facing windows bring steady, soft light while southern exposure adds direct sun that shifts throughout the day. This means the occupants can notice the seasons changing from inside—pretty clever for city living.

Here’s the brilliant bit: they extended the timber flooring up the walls. It’s simple, but this move transforms everything. The wood wraps around different activities like a cosy nest, making cooking, working, and hanging out feel connected but not cramped.

Design Duality: Penthouse Renovation in Madrid by Estudio Reciente.

This Madrid penthouse employs contrast rather than walls to define spaces. A vibrant core of rich materials—oak panelling, green walls, and striking marbles—transitions to calm, neutral living areas.

Custom furniture by Plantea completes the picture, using repeated colours and textures that feel natural together. Nothing shouts “look at me”, and everything fits.

The bedroom zone is equally smart. Walk-in wardrobes come before the bedrooms, so the sleeping spaces can focus purely on rest. No bulky furniture, just calm and quiet. It’s the kind of planning detail that makes daily life better without you even noticing.

The whole apartment now feels like a proper refuge from Madrid’s busy streets. Plantea proved you don’t need to gut everything to create something special. It’s about understanding what a space wants to be, then helping it get there.

The result is a home that looks effortless but works hard behind the scenes. That’s good design right there.

This Madrid House Blurs the Lines Between Nature and Architecture.

When Beta Ø architects approached this Madrid residence, they saw potential for magic in its concrete bones. The resulting home celebrates the relationship between built and natural environments, where expansive glazing dissolves boundaries and transforms the garden into an active participant in daily life.

[Images courtesy of Plantea Estudio. Photography by Salva López.]