Ahead Of The Curve

Architect Andrea Serboli’s Art Nouveau apartment in Barcelona uses subtle shapes to make a bold style statement

- Jenny Tucker

At first glance, this apartment is striking, compact and bursting with character. But, look beyond the obvious, and there is a tantalising secret. The owner, Andrea Serboli, an architect and interior designer, bought his home two years ago when it was in a state of neglect and partitioned into six tiny rooms. But its high ceilings and incredible location, near the famous Sagrada Familia basilica, were alluring. ‘I wanted an old property with a story,’ he says, ‘but I also wanted something that I could renovate to my taste. And I had a clear idea of my design within five minutes of walking through the door.’

Andrea knew he had to first ‘empty the space’ so most of the partitions had to go. The original floor tiles in the two bedrooms were in good condition, so Andrea left them intact, but the main living space and the bathroom had suffered the onslaught of time and there was little to be rescued.