Tactile, Earthy Materials Give a Bland Madrid Apartment Some Personality

November 08, 2022

Tactile, Earthy Materials Give a Bland Madrid Apartment Some Personality

Designer couple Matteo Ferrari and Carlota Gallo combine handmade terra-cotta tiles, tadelakt plaster, aluminum details, and limestone surfaces in their two-level home.

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Project Details:

Location: Madrid, Spain

Architect: Matteo Ferrari Studio and Carlota Gallo

Year: 2022

Footprint: 645 square feet

Photographer: Asier Rua / @asierrua

From the Architect: "In the heart of Madrid, a small apartment called Casa Olivar was born. The interior design was conceived by the owner-couple, designers Matteo Ferrari and Carlota Gallo, who rescued the space from its ruined state. The aim was to bring new life to the space, adding layers, rewriting its history, and thereby generating new memories.

"The conversion to living space was spontaneous and essential, recovering those distinctive features of the architecture and providing a new narrative: a non-urban place; a sensorial refuge to reconnect with ourselves, regulate our emotions, and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

"The intervention is characterized by a spatial continuity and a warm minimalism; it seeks to elevate natural light and encourage the use of local craft materials, generating a close dialogue between light and honest materiality. Located in a traditional Madrilenian corrala building—a type of apartment complex found in Madrid—the two-level unit is bounded by a façade and an inner courtyard with a historic character. Its layout is organic and characterized by the succession of consecutive spaces.

"The intervention aims to generate a lighting and visual connection to provide the sensation of spatial openness and to connect with the outside world. The natural light sources are thus visible from all points of the house, generating an atmosphere characterized by nuances of light and soft shadows.

"The handmade terra-cotta tiles create continuity between the different rooms, covering the floor and embracing the walls of the bathroom. Used in various formats and sizes, they enrich the spatial perception and give identity to the architectural volumes.

"Most of the natural stones were uncovered during the renovation work, and are used alternately throughout the space to create low tables and display stands. The antiqued limestone worktop and the tadelakt finish of the sculptural table find their breaking points in the kitchen’s aluminum, conferring a more contemporary look to the ensemble.

"Some of these objects have been designed by Carlota Gallo, such as the textile pieces distributed throughout the house. Others are collaborations by the couple, such as the sculptural table.