Quarter Round is a minimal residence located in Madrid, Spain, designed by Estudio Gonzalo del Val + Toni Gelabert. The Marqués de Amurrio residential building was constructed between 1925 and 1927 by renowned architect Gustavo Fernández Balbuena, the founder and first director of the European architecture magazine, Arquitectura, which remains active today. This building, known for its exceptional architecture and notable author, is included on the Madrid heritage list. Situated in the Chamberí neighborhood, the complex features a street-facing patio, a result of the urban planning strategies of the time aimed at improving sanitation. However, this led to dark and poorly ventilated interior patios and housing floors with confined wet areas near the secondary entrance for domestic service.

The new owner of the centennial home seeks a typological renovation. To accommodate the desire for increased enjoyment and the need for a remote work area, a proposal is presented with four scenarios separated by preludes or openings. These brief spatial pieces introduce the main spaces of the home – bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and working area – each with its own unique shape to fit the specific needs of the home. The finishes will be a combination of restoring the original identity and quality of the old house while altering and distorting its geometries and sizes. Architectural elements, reminiscent of cabinetmaking, create a theme of curves and contours that shape the preludes separating the various domestic scenes, both productive and hedonistic.

Photography by José Hevia