Original Mosaic Tile Lays the Groundwork for an Apartment Revamp in Spain

When DG Estudio was tapped to modernize an old apartment in Valencia, Spain, the local architecture firm eagerly accepted the challenge. Perched high above the city’s bustling Ruzafa neighborhood, the top-level dwelling housed a trove of historic elements, which the team sought to preserve while adapting it to accommodate "a more current way of life."

Of the home’s many notable details, the original moldings, doors, and colorful mosaic tile floors were given the most attention during the preservation. "The three original elements ... are the main protagonists of this intervention as can be seen in the images of the final result," says DG Estudio.

To add contemporary flair and tie together those circa period elements, the firm blended in wood, naturally. "This material provides warmth and uniformity to the entire intervention," say the architects. "Natural oak wood shapes the kitchen, the floor, and dressing room of the [primary] bedroom, and the transitional elements between the bedrooms and the terrace."