Architecture practice Be Studio has created the Churruca apartment block in the coastal region of Maresme, which is organised around a four-storey internal courtyard.
Influenced by the local Mediterranean vernacular and coastal climate, the apartment block has a cream-hued facade with balconies fronted by green blinds and ceramic tile detailing that enable the block to "blend with the surrounding buildings".
Be Studio designed the Churruca apartment block in Maresme
"The combination of continuous facade coatings and ceramic tile pavements is a basic and common solution in Mediterranean architecture," studio co-founder Silvia Baulies Domènech told Dezeen.
"In this case, we have complemented it by adding glazed ceramic tiles typical of Catalonia and cord-operated sun protection blinds, which are also elements found in the traditional vernacular houses," she added. A communal inner courtyard provides access to the residences
Within the block a bright and airy central courtyard serves as a vertical circulation core providing access to the seven residences and operating as a key communication point between the residents.
Seeking a different material language to the building front, Be Studio completed the courtyard with white corrugated steel set off by an orange staircase adorned with arched openings and a lift tower clad with burnt-red ceramic tiles.
The lift was clad with burnt-red ceramic tiles
"The building is structured with a system of...