Atelier LC

Sant Antoni de Calonge

Creative Space, Residential

Two new volumes transform a family home on the Costa Brava into a secluded creative hub. Designed for artist and designer Lorena Canals, two pavilions introduce new spaces for artistic residencies and guests while exploring an architecture that is both functional and sculptural.

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New Additions: Independent Yet Connected

When thinking about house extensions, we often imagine knocking down walls and creating extra rooms. But what else might be possible when introducing new functions?

With this question in mind, we took on a project for designer and artist Lorena Canals and her family in the coastal town of Sant Antoni de Calonge. They asked us to design two independent apartments for their daughters and another space for Lorena's atelier, for which they had acquired the neighbouring plot. It was important for them that the new additions had an iconic, sculpture-like presence while still being somehow linked to the existing house.

Taking advantage of the generous plot, we proposed designing two independent pavilions laid strategically throughout the garden. Focusing on creating a simple yet iconic design, this project proposes a delicate interplay of tension between the three volumes, transforming the garden into a cohesive architectural ensemble.

mesura, studio: [object Object] (Slide 1)

mesura, studio: [object Object] (Slide 2)

mesura, studio: [object Object] (Slide 3)

The volumes seen as a section. (1/3)

Lorena Canals working on her textile sculptures. (2/3)

Lorena Canals working on her textile sculptures. (3/3)

A Secluded Creative Shelter

The atelier needed to be a spacious and adaptable environment where Lorena and resident artists could craft and exhibit works in various formats. To foster an intimate setting for creative work, we placed the atelier at the lower part of the plot, surrounded by vegetation. The open floor plan extends to the landscape through triangular windows, balancing privacy and connection with nature. Skylights flood the space with sunlight, casting shifting patterns throughout the day. Outside, a staircase leads to an open terrace among the tree canopy.

Exposed concrete is the unifying element between the main house and the pavilions, creating a sense of continuity between old and new. On the other hand, the strength and flexibility of concrete allowed us to create a single, continuous envelope, stripping away unnecessary elements to achieve pure geometric forms. Openings are defined by the bold structure, offering views of the sea and lush garden that contrast with the sleek, grey surfaces.

mesura, studio: [object Object] (Slide 4)

Volume explorations for the project. (1/4)

Volume explorations for the project. (2/4)

Volume explorations for the project. (3/4)

Volume explorations for the project. (4/4)

Strategies for Living Together

At the project's core is the idea of expanding an intimate family home into a creative hub that welcomes new voices. Aligning with Lorena's vision, the new structures introduce a fluid coexistence between private and shared spaces, allowing resident artists to engage with the family's daily life while maintaining independence. Each pavilion's location and layout respond to its function and relationship with the garden and the main house.

The apartments are accommodated in a two-story building across the parking, one of the plot's highest points. This position offers easy access and great views of the sea and garden from open and stripped-down interiors. Each unit is distributed on two levels: a kitchen and living area on the ground level and two bedrooms upstairs.

By incorporating the new pavilions and a shared dining room, the project provides the necessary spaces for both family and guests while respecting the original house's presence. The sculptural forms of the new structures, combined with their shared materiality and careful positioning, establish a harmonious dialogue with the main house, creating a system of independent yet interconnected elements.