The exposed brickwork explains almost everything about this house in Mirasierra, one of the most sought-after areas in northern Madrid. The original brickwork, dark and horizontal, dates back to 1983, while the new brickwork, laid vertically, precisely marks where the old structure ends and the addition built by the 2A Área Arquitectura studio begins. There was never any intention to disguise the difference: this coexistence between old and new is the key to the project.
The owner, who had lived in Mirasierra before having to leave for work, always wanted to return, so she bought the house in 2019. The project began remotely, with economic restrictions and the pandemic dictating the pace. From the original construction, they only preserved the exposed brick structure and the floor plan. The rest — layout, facades, installations, finishes — was started from scratch.
The original house functioned with a split-level layout around a central, naturally lit entrance hall. The main living areas — living room, bedroom, kitchen and service area — occupied a single level. The upper level was reduced to small, poorly lit bedrooms. On the lower level, the garage and several unused rooms opened onto a covered outdoor space that also failed to take advantage of its location. The renovation maintained this split-level layout but redistributed it by zones: the public areas below and the private areas above.
Taking advantage of the slope of the plot, the street level now houses the garage and a guest area with access to a bright outdoor space. The ground floor concentrates all the main living areas: kitchen, living room, dining room and office. What was formerly the residual bedroom level became the children’s area, with two bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms and a connecting hallway. Finally, a completely new floor was added, featuring the main bedroom, a private sitting room and a terrace on the original roof, with views of the northern mountains.
The increased volume towards the garden allowed for the creation of double-height spaces and intermediate courtyards that bring light to areas previously shrouded in shadow. The old gabled roofs were transformed into single-slope pitched roofs, refining the overall appearance as seen from the street. The plot was also reorganised, with the construction of a swimming pool and the addition of porches, pergolas and reading areas that maintain the same style as the interiors.
On the exterior, the openings in the façade were significantly enlarged, eliminating superfluous decorative elements to create a clean and austere appearance. Inside, the same material is used throughout the ground floor: it appears in the living room fireplace, on the front wall of the dining room, in the office, and in the open courtyards that connect the extended area.
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In contrast to the solidity of the terracotta, the studio introduced elements of steel and wood: walnut frames, latticework, and benches, continuous cement-coloured flooring and white walls and ceilings. According to the architects, ‘the colour palette seeks to enhance the solid, stone materials against a neutral base of grays and light wood.’ The ‘Camaleonda’ sofa by Mario Bellini, upholstered in green leather, is practically the only splash of colour on the entire ground floor.
All the woodwork and furniture in the house were designed by 2A Área Arquitectura. The latticework screens that divide the spaces — to which the owner attached special importance from the beginning — are based on a module of interlocking bars that is repeated in different rooms and reappears in the structure of the large bookcase that runs the length of the double-height living room. This piece, designed by the studio, is the most representative element of the living area: it takes advantage of the height gained with the extension and organises the space without closing it off.
The fireplace, also designed by the team, features a tiled splashnack from Marazzi's ‘Lume’ series. The kitchen — with a central island serving as a breakfast bar — is by Porcelanosa, as are the ceramic floor and wall tiles . A vintage Natuzzi sofa sits in the living room. The family also incorporated furniture from their previous home, combining it with new pieces.
The result is a single-family home that proudly displays its 1980s origins, making exposed brick the star of the show. This renovated house features a multiplied sense of space, resulting in a much more fluid layout that maximises natural light and fosters a connection with the outdoors. All of this is achieved with a simple aesthetic that avoids creating distinctions between areas. The decorative style is austere, neutral and continuous. ‘The aim is not to define each zone or create singular elements, but rather for everything to form part of a unified and harmonious whole,’ the architects conclude. 2aareaarquitectura.com
