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Insights

Façade of the MIQ house in Sarrià, with the street tree in front
Oak hallway leading to the corridor with hydraulic tiles
Red WC and original terrazzo staircase next to a green wall
Living room under the vault, with the folding doors open to the courtyard
Living room with the folding doors closed
Original exposed stone and brick wall in the living room, above a low oak cabinet
Back courtyard with the metal staircase and a palm tree in the background
Rear studio with the metal staircase and the upper terrace
Light metal staircase from the courtyard to the terrace, among the greenery on the party walls
Salmon-coloured bathroom under the original timber beams
Roof exit with the new Catalan vault and timber joinery above the staircase
Stacks of reclaimed hydraulic tiles before being relaid
Sample board of the fifteen hydraulic tile patterns found in the house
Original octagonal hydraulic tile next to the green and pink colour samples chosen from it
Model of the house in three-quarter view from the façade
Model of the house in long section, from the courtyard to the façade
Perspective long section of the house, with summer and winter sunlight and natural ventilation through the staircase
Ground, first and roof floor plans of the MIQ house, scale 1:150
Projects

MIQ: when what exists is the inspiration

A terraced house in the old centre of Sarrià transformed on the principles of maximum retention and on-site recovery.

LocationSarrià, Barcelona
TypeFull renovation of a terraced single-family house
Year2017–2018
ArchitectSara Baldasano
CollaboratorsMaddi Urdampilleta and Damián Figueras
Building engineerRaul Heras
ContractorConstrucciones Varela
ClientPrivate
RecognitionFinalist, 15th Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism (BEAU), 2021

LOOP1 min read

Keeping rather than replacing

Miquel had lived in the house for more than fifty years and sold it to a local family who valued its original construction. MIQ opens a new chapter by keeping what gives this terraced house in Sarrià its character: stone and brick walls, Catalan vaults, timber and steel beams and the original staircase. Keeping it makes it possible to transform the house without erasing the way it was lived in.

Recovering and relaying

The hydraulic and terrazzo floors tell part of that story. The hydraulic tiles could not be kept in place: they were lifted, recovered and relaid. To replace missing pieces and extend their presence, Huguet made new tiles in Mallorca with the original patterns. New and reclaimed tiles now share the same floor.

The colours of the house

The new architecture takes its palette from the existing floors. Greens, reds and terracottas rise from the floor to the walls and carry the memory of the house forward. The transformation brings light, comfort and openness to the courtyard. Above the preserved staircase, a new double Catalan vault and an adjustable opening bring light inside and encourage natural ventilation.

Publications

ArchDaily, 2021 ↗ · Afasia Archzine, 2021 ↗ · Diario Design, 2021 ↗ · Archisearch, 2021 ↗ · Arquitectura y Diseño, 2022 ↗

Project data

KeptWalls, Catalan vaults, beams and original staircase
ReclaimedHydraulic tile floor, lifted and relaid

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Materials · 30 Oct 2026Available

Teide refractory bricks

New refractory bricks that were never used: second-grade surplus from the Teide factory. Over 5,000 units in Calanda (Teruel), from €0.47 each.