Natural light fills the apartment, streaming in from 19th-century-style windows to illuminate the restored architectural details and lend a quiet vitality to each space.
Febrero Studio let the kitchen’s materials and furnishings take centre stage by concealing appliances, to maintain a clean, uninterrupted aesthetic. Pictured: the Nikari Seminar bar chair by Kari Virtanen.
Located in the heart of Madrid, Febrero Studio gently reinterprets a 19th-century apartment for modern living, anchored by the owners’ art collection.
When two art-loving clients approached Spanish architecture firm Febrero Studio to restore a historic apartment in Madrid, the practice saw the task not as a renovation, but a ‘reorganisation’. “They envisioned a residence that respected the historic character of the building while offering all the functionality and flow of modern living,” head architect and founder Jesús Díaz Osuna explains. The result is a home shaped by its history, yet not confined by it.
Tucked within a 19th-century heritage building in Madrid’s Justicia neighbourhood—an area celebrated for its architectural legacy and cultural vibrancy—the apartment carries the spirit of its time. With this in mind, Febrero Studio chose to preserve much of the original structure, including the double-height ceilings, ornate cornicing and finely crafted ceiling mouldings. “We approached the layout with sensitivity to its original bones, but with a clear intention to improve flow and spatial clarity,” Díaz Osuna says.
The reorganisation naturally separates shared and private life. Two main living areas and a newly added secondary kitchen shape the social heart of the home, while three bedrooms, their ensuites and a home office form the apartment’s quieter areas.
Movement between these spaces is characterised by the apartment’s original wooden doors, which the studio restored and repurposed to enhance flow while linking the apartment’s storied past with its modern purpose.
Adjacent to the kitchen, the dining area is anchored by the Møller #75 chairs by Niels Otto Møller, which are arranged around a custom dining table made from travertine by F. by Febrero and complemented by the Razorblade armchair by Henning Kjærnulf.
“One of the most striking features is the height of the ceilings, which lend a sense of grandeur and openness to the entire residence,” Díaz Osuna says. “Additionally, circulation was enhanced so that each area connects fluidly while maintaining a sense of privacy and calm.”
The chosen materials engage in their own subtle dialogue with the past. Tactile herringbone flooring evokes traditional Madrid interiors, while custom joinery echoes the apartment’s original craftsmanship. Elsewhere, natural stone, brushed brass and soft textiles introduce nuanced contrasts, creating a sense of understated sophistication without overshadowing the owners’ art collection.
“Art played a central role in the design process from the very beginning,” Díaz Osuna explains. “The apartment was conceived almost like a gallery, with large wall surfaces, controlled lighting, and sight lines carefully considered to highlight key works. But beyond that, the clients’ eclectic and deeply personal collection—ranging from contemporary pieces to more classical works—inspired our overall approach: one that values dialogue between eras, a sensitivity to context, and a deep appreciation for craft.”
The collection features works by German artist Helmut Dorner, Chilean artist and architect Alfredo Jaar and American photographer Gregory Crewdson, each piece contributing to a dynamic interplay with the apartment’s iconic furniture. Notable pieces include the Møller #75 chairs by Niels Otto Møller, the Kartell Componibili Recycled 3 round storage unit by Anna Castelli Ferrieri and the Fritz Hansen Egg chair and footstool by Arne Jacobsen.
By bridging historical integrity with modern sensibilities, Febrero Studio offers a model for future adaptive reuse, with this Madrid apartment standing as a testament to how thoughtful design can unify a shared history with the needs of the future.
Pictured: The Fritz Hansen Egg chair and footstool by Arne Jacobsen alongside a vintage artwork by German artist Helmut Dorner.
‘Death Corridor’ by Chilean artist and architect Alfredo Jaar.
Pictured: a vintage Fase President lamp by Luis Perez de la Oliva paired with ‘Untitled’ by American photographer Gregory Crewdson.
Febrero Studio carefully preserved the heritage building’s original architecture and elements, adapting them for modern use. These include the original wooden doors, double-height ceilings, ornate cornicing and intricate ceiling mouldings.
Pictured: the Kartell Componibili Recycled 3 round storage unit by Anna Castelli Ferrieri.
In the bedroom, the Razorblade armchair by Henning Kjærnulf and the Vibia Mayfair Mini by Diego Fortunato.
