Casa en Penumbra is the renovation of a 56 m² apartment located in a 19th-century building in the center of Madrid, conceived as a domestic environment shaped by soft, filtered light where shadow becomes a defining architectural element.
The original apartment presented a fragmented layout and a deteriorated timber structure, requiring a comprehensive intervention that included the partial reconstruction of floors and load-bearing walls. The project is organized around a single architectural gesture: a compact oak volume that contains the bedroom and bathroom. This central element defines the spatial logic of the dwelling, allowing the rest of the program — kitchen, dining, living, and storage — to unfold as a continuous space around it.
The nearly rectangular plan features two balconies facing the street and a smaller opening toward the inner courtyard. Existing ceiling heights are preserved and emphasized to enhance spatial perception and integrate storage within the architecture. The resulting layout promotes an open and fluid domestic environment, where functions overlap and boundaries remain intentionally diffuse.
Materiality plays a key role in constructing the atmosphere of the project. Natural light is filtered through linen curtains and layered textiles, softening the intensity of the exterior and generating a controlled penumbra. Surfaces with satin finishes and muted reflections interact with this light, while floor-to-ceiling mirrors amplify depth and extend spatial perception.
The kitchen is conceived as a dark wood volume integrated into the main living space, with a central marble opening that highlights its presence while maintaining visual continuity. Within the oak core, the bedroom and bathroom form a more intimate domain, accessed through a large sliding door that intensifies the transition between spaces.
The project explores how light, material, and spatial organization can construct a domestic atmosphere where shadow is not a residual condition, but an active and deliberate architectural tool.
