A Dialogue Between Heritage and Contemporary Living. A sensitive and creative renovation in Barcelona’s coveted Gràcia district, Rabassa embodies the harmony between history and innovation. A traditional townhouse has been transformed into three distinctive apartments, each designed to celebrate the building’s Catalan heritage while introducing a refined, contemporary sensibility. Located in the heart of Barcelona’s vibrant Gràcia district, Rabassa reimagines a classic two-storey townhouse as three independent residences. The project seeks balance: conserving the original architectural character while providing elegant, modern living environments. Gràcia’s identity, intimate streets, strong local spirit, and artistic energy, informs every aspect of the design.  M-i-r-a architects, in collaboration with DOD Building, has crafted three serene apartments that reflect the neighbourhood’s quiet charm and creativity, merging craftsmanship with contemporary architectural thinking.

Each apartment within Rabassa possesses its own character, distinctive yet cohesive. The original elements guide the new design: Catalan vaulted ceilings, traditional ceramic floor tiles, and exposed brick walls define the interior atmosphere, establishing a dialogue between texture, light, and structure. Natural light plays a fundamental role. Large windows and terrace doors flood the spaces with sunlight, creating a seamless transition between interior and exterior. The open-plan layouts and high ceilings further enhance this feeling of spatial generosity and calm. A restrained palette of white surfaces, neutral tones, and polished-concrete flooring allows the material heritage to stand out while ensuring a timeless contemporary feel. Externally, the alabaster façade retains the dignified charm of a traditional Gràcia townhouse. The stucco detailing and dark-brown window frames form a quiet, elegant composition that mirrors the balanced interplay between past and present found within.

The Apartments

The ground-floor apartment opens with a central corridor illuminated by light streaming through pine-framed windows and glass-panelled doors. Two private terraces create bright oases within the home, inviting nature and daylight deep into the plan. The master bedroom with ensuite faces the street, while the spacious living–kitchen–dining area forms the social core, flowing effortlessly toward one of the terraces. A second bedroom connects to the larger outdoor patio, blending comfort with openness. In the second-floor residence, the exposed brickwork and vaulted ceiling lend the main living space a sense of authentic character. Natural light enters from both ends, through a traditional balcony in the master bedroom and floor-to-ceiling windows in the living area, creating a luminous, tranquil atmosphere. Even the restored glass-panelled bathroom door embodies the project’s philosophy: bridging the historical and the contemporary with understated precision. The uppermost apartment is linked to a spacious rooftop terrace by a sculptural stairwell. The terrace, enclosed by textured Escardejat walls, a nod to Catalan craft traditions, offers a private outdoor sanctuary above the city. Inside, high ceilings, skylights, and large glazed openings amplify the sense of light and verticality. The original decorative floor tiles become the focal point, their intricate patterns contrasting beautifully with the simplicity of white walls and exposed brickwork. Rabassa is a project that celebrates continuity, between tradition and innovation, material and light, architecture and atmosphere. Each apartment preserves the memory of the building’s past while embodying a refined and contemporary way of living, rooted in the timeless character of Gràcia.