Xt 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.’
A nd re a k new he had t o f i r s t ‘empt y t he s pac e ’ so mo s t of t he
partitions had to go. The original f loor tiles in the two bedrooms
we r e i n go o d c on d it ion , s o A n d r e a lef t t h e m i nt a c t , bu t t h e ma i n
living space and the bathroom had suffered the onslaught of time
and there was little to be rescued.
‘This section had to be completely gutted,’ he explains. ‘But
t h is gave me scope for my excit i ng concept : to create a h idden
bathroom in the centre of the space.’ Andrea describes this inner
chamber as a wooden-clad blue-lacquered box. But it’s much
more than that. It’s an anomaly, its entrance concealed between
cupboard doors. Inside, the walls are in warm-pink micro cement
which creates an ethereal glow and, because there is only one
small circular window on to the living area, there is a deep sense
o f b e i n g i mme r s e d i n p e a c e. A n d r e a c a l l s i t h i s ‘sancta sanctorum,
a place where I can go to relax in an intimate environment’.
A s a n a r c h i t e c t , A n d r e a mo d i f i e s h i s o wn d e s i g n e t h o s t o s u i t
his client’s brief. But, with his own apartment, he can experiment
and let his choices run free. ‘I am inspired by so many elements,’
he reveals. ‘My love of illustration, comics and video games, my
travels, my passion for classicism, Art Deco and postmodernism.
All of it excites me.’ And while the colour choices seem somewhat
spartan, there is a thread linking the design in a systematic way.
‘I opted for neutral shades for the shell,’ says Andrea, ‘but that
means the blue-lacquered panels for the bathroom door and the
kitchen units stand out. The coral shade on the beams is the same
colour as the bathroom cabinet, plus it mirrors the terracotta tiles
on the terrace. There are matching themes every where.’
T he ide a wa s t o cre at e ‘a fe el of a f forda ble lu x u r y ’. Not i n a n
ostentatious way, but in the detail. Andrea opted for eye-catching
gor ge ou sne s s wit h Por t ob el lo ma rble work t op s , w h i le sk i r t i ng
boards are edged in brass. Vintage pieces mix with contemporary
iconic styles and more traditional local items. ‘Of course, I love
beautiful design,’ laughs Andrea, ‘and that doesn’t exclude Ikea.’
Ask Andrea which is his favourite part of the apartment, and
it’s hard to pin him down. ‘Of course, I love my bathroom. But
I also love being in the kitchen cooking for friends while looking
out to the terrace. I often stop and think how lucky I am.’a
See more of Andrea’s work at colomboserboli.comLIVING AREA
A simple aesthetic is created with
a modular sofa and pared-back
modern-classic accessories. The
painting is by Andrea’s father,
who inspired him.
Sofa, Hay. Zigzag pouf, Kettal
Object by Emiliana Design Studio
at Kettal. Painting, Piero Serboli
livingetc.com 51houses