Small Madrid Apartment Transformed into an Office by Plutarco Experimento | Yellowtrace

Small Madrid Apartment Transformed into an Office by Plutarco Experimento | Yellowtrace

Small Madrid Apartment Transformed into an Office by Plutarco Experimento | Yellowtrace

Small Madrid Apartment Transformed into an Office by Plutarco Experimento | Yellowtrace

 

Oh boy, do we love the work of Madrid-based practice Plutarco around here or what? Founded by Ana Arana and Enrique Ventosa in 2015, the young designers undertake projects in architecture and interiors, branding and identities, installations, exhibitions and products. Their commitment to colour and material experimentation is second to none, and the pair has a knack for elevating the ordinary into something quite special, often on a pretty lean budget.

Their most recent project is a boutique office in Madrid housed in a former apartment, which features the duo’s signature approach to bizarre colour and material combinations that sing.

“When the owner of this small office came to see us, he wanted to make a change in his life,” explain Ana and Enrique. “He had just separated from his partner of the graphic design studio they owned and wanted a fresh new look. He was used to white walls and really austere decoration, so he asked us to give some colour and light to a very narrow and deep space he had bought for himself.”

 

See more projects by Plutarco on Yellowtrace.

 

Small Madrid Apartment Transformed into an Office by Plutarco Experimento | Yellowtrace

Small Madrid Apartment Transformed into an Office by Plutarco Experimento | Yellowtrace

Small Madrid Apartment Transformed into an Office by Plutarco Experimento | Yellowtrace

 

Due to the long “tube-like” proportion of the site, Plutarco employed permeable and moveable partitions so the light could penetrate all the way to the back of the space. The main decision was to design a very transparent entrance with a hallway that separates the home from the street. Meanwhile, the glass brick wall at the end of the office hides the bathroom and storage room while allowing luminosity to access the back room.

The brick wall is visually divided into four sections, with a supporting structure painted in green forming a cross. “The cross is our wink to Luis Barragan’s architecture, and glass bricks to Maison de Verre”, explain the designers.

The metal structures and all the details separating the entrance from the working space remain white to allow more light. “But he wanted colour!!”, said the pair of their client. So, they gave him a bright blue kitchen. The joinery acts as the visual epicentre – it stands out without looking obnoxious. The floor colour wraps up the wall on both sides, while the burnt-yellow bathroom tinges the back of the space in a warm shade that creates a comfortable atmosphere.

Another winner by Plutarco.

 

 

[Images courtesy of Plutarco Experimento. Photography by Asier Rua.]

 



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With a disarming blend of authority and approachability, Dana is a former refugee-turned-global design visionary. Through her multi-faceted work as a creative director, keynote speaker, editor, curator, interior designer and digital publisher, Dana empowers others to appreciate and engage with design in transformative ways, making the sometimes intimidating world of design accessible to everyone, regardless of their familiarity with the subject. Dana's been catapulted to the status of a stalwart global influencer, with recognition from industry heavyweights such as AD Germany, Vogue Living, Elle Décor Italia and Danish RUM Interiør Design, who have named as one of the Top True Global Influencers of the Design World and counted her among the most visionary female creatives on the planet. Her TEDx talk—"Design Can Change the Way You See the World"— will challenge and transform your understanding of design's omnipresent and profound influence. Through her vast experience in interiors, architecture and design, Dana challenges the prevailing rapid image culture, highlighting the importance of originality, sustainability, connecting with your values and learning to "see" design beyond the aesthetic.

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