Mitre, A Private Residence by Conti, Cert.
Designer
Oscar Tusquets
Lluis Clotet
Otto Canalda
Ramón Úbeda
Álvaro Siza
Ettore Sottsass
Location
Spain
Year
2026
A comprehensive renovation of a 200 m² private residence in Barcelona by Conti Cert redefines a 1970s apartment through structural clarity and a carefully considered material palette, where aluminum, glass, and wood are used with precision.
The project begins with a neutral envelope. Walls and ceilings in white establish a clean architectural canvas, allowing materials to define the space. White terrazzo flooring provides a calm and continuous base for wood paneling and selected furnishings. The result is an interior that balances sobriety and warmth, where each element is expressed with much precision and no excess.
In a space defined by such clarity, furniture is selected with equal discipline. BD pieces integrate naturally into the architecture, drawing on the company’s long-standing exploration of aluminium profiles to introduce structure and contrast.
The Cornisa shelving system, part of BD’s aluminium collection since the late 1980s, is positioned along the dining area as a precise and linear element. Its extruded aluminum profile supports significant weight while remaining visually light. Extending horizontally with order and rhythm, it aligns with the restrained material palette of the space. Within such a controlled framework, contrast is deliberate. The clean lines of aluminum sharpen the warmth of timber, reinforcing the composition rather than disrupting it.
In the living area, the 2001 Side Tables by Ramón Úbeda & Otto Canalda bring reflection and transparency into the composition. Their circular ultra-clear glass tops rest on mirrored cylindrical bases, allowing the forms to appear almost suspended. The polished surfaces complement the surrounding wood without competing with it, acting as discreet yet sculptural counterpoints within the room.
Lighting plays a fundamental role within the space. The Flamingo Lamp, designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira, introduces a reduced, almost graphic line into the interior. Its delicate structure and movable arm provide intimate light without visual heaviness. Reduced to its essentials, it operates quietly while retaining a distinct architectural character.
Architecture and furniture operate together within a precise material palette where contrast is not only deliberate but necessary. Aluminium, long central to BD’s design language, coexists with glass, stainless steel, terrazzo, and wood in measured proportion. BD pieces are not treated as decorative additions, but as structural participants within the spatial composition.
The project demonstrates how restraint, when rigorously defined, allows both architecture and objects to hold presence. A contemporary interior rooted in tradition, where clarity, function, and material integrity remain in balance.
Photography: Claudia Maurino
