Plantea Estudio reconfigures 57-square-meter apartment in Madrid

Carla Morán, Luis Gil, and Lorenzo Gil of Plantea Estudio have transformed a 57-square-meter apartment in Madrid’s Justicia neighborhood into a brightly lit, open-plan home, elledecor.com reported. The property, which includes a 5-square-meter terrace, had remained dark and heavily compartmentalized since the building’s construction in the 1960s.

Redistributing Space in the Justicia District

The interior design team reconfigured the floor plan to eliminate interior hallways entirely. According to Plantea Estudio, the apartment features a relatively square layout that allowed them to optimize every millimetre of the 57 internal square meters.

At the center of the newly rewritten floor plan sits a custom-built core made of stained chestnut wood. This central volume integrates both the kitchen and a dressing area, allowing residents to walk completely around it on all four sides. The layout favors the continuous flow of natural light throughout the residence.

The open-plan kitchen features an island topped with honed Dolomite marble, custom chestnut-finished cabinetry, and a countertop and shelf built from brushed stainless steel. Directly adjacent is a minimalist dining space featuring a painted pine floor matching the wall color, along with an Alvar Aalto 90B table and 68 chairs for Artek.

Mediterranean Architecture Meets Nordic Minimalist Design

The apartment’s aesthetic draws inspiration from 1950s Mediterranean architecture pioneered by designers like José Antonio Coderch and Miguel Milá, blended with Nordic minimalism. A custom-built sofa anchors the living zone, which looks out toward the terrace.

A glass partition separates the main bedroom and its adjoining dressing room from the primary salon. Meanwhile, a second room functions simultaneously as a study and a laundry area, connecting directly to the outdoor terrace.

Plantea Estudio utilized lighting fixtures from Santa & Cole, Artemide, and Isamu Noguchi. The flooring throughout the apartment consists of pine boards painted in the same tone as the walls.

The designers explained that these spaces reflect a contemporary character with an artisanal soul, where design prioritizes living experience over ostentation. Maintaining consistent materials and color tones throughout the residence ensures the compact floor plan is perceived as a unified whole.