Before & After: In Madrid, a Family of Architects Turn a "Cave" Into a Light-Filled Apartment

isabelle kliger
·2 min read

Two generations team up to bring sunshine to every corner of their 650-square-foot flat.

A family of architects teamed up to bring sunshine to every corner of their 650-square-foot flat in Madrid.
A family of architects teamed up to bring sunshine to every corner of their 650-square-foot flat in Madrid.

"We sacrificed some privacy for the light, but it’s worth it," says Rubén Picado about the Madrid apartment he renovated with his wife, María José de Blas.

The architect couple, who cofounded the firm Picado de Bas, live next door—so when the adjacent flat came up for sale in 2005 they didn’t hesitate. "Our kids were growing up and needed a space of their own, but we also wanted a place to share with the whole family and our friends," Rubén explains.

"We still refer to it as ‘la cueva,’" jokes their 26-year-old daughter, Candela Picado, as she looks around the airy, light-filled apartment she now shares with her elder brother, Mateo. "The name came about during the pandemic—we called it the cave, because of its dilapidated, dark aesthetic, and the lack of natural light due its small rooms and opaque walls."

Before: Living Room/Office

Before the renovation what is now the main living space of the apartment had been used as an office.
Before the renovation what is now the main living space of the apartment had been used as an office.

After: Living Room

"When not being used as my studio, the living room is transformed into a meeting space with modular furniture designed to adapt to any occasion. The sofas can face each other or form an L-shape, depending on the vibe you want to create,
"When not being used as my studio, the living room is transformed into a meeting space with modular furniture designed to adapt to any occasion. The sofas can face each other or form an L-shape, depending on the vibe you want to create,

The apartment is located in Madrid’s Arturo Soria neighborhood, named after the famed architect and urban planner. Despite being less than 15 minutes by car from central Madrid, the apartment block where the Picado de Blas family lives is surrounded by greenery.

In late 2023, Rubén and María José set about renovating the 650-square-foot apartment (700 square feet including the patio) alongside their architect son and artist/architect daughter.

By keeping the upper sections of the walls transparent, the apartment is flooded with light and there is a view all the way from the patio on one side of the apartment through the bedroom windows on the other side.
By keeping the upper sections of the walls transparent, the apartment is flooded with light and there is a view all the way from the patio on one side of the apartment through the bedroom windows on the other side.

See the full story on Dwell.com: Before & After: In Madrid, a Family of Architects Turn a "Cave" Into a Light-Filled Apartment
Related stories: