In Spain, Pamplona’s Milagrosa district — populated by a large number of abandoned industrial buildings — welcomes Loft A, a former motorbike repair shop-turned-residential loft. Helmed by Cristina Vergara and Enrique Rojo of Arrova (Atelier Rojo-Vergara), the restoration project was intended as a prototype for the district, a hopeful indication of what the other ailing architectural structures in the area could become.
The atelier was stripped away of unnecessary elements, magnifying the space’s original bones consisting of large openings, even-spaced columns, angle beams and high ceilings. The newly-created porch serves as a transitional area between the street and interior, and segues into an overwhelmingly spacious living area shielded from passersby via floor-to-ceiling curtains. A raised platform becomes the living area, accessed by a moveable aluminium step ladder; underneath, a sunken pit holds the kitchen and study room, tucked away to preserve the space’s uncluttered sightlines.
Adding to the lightness of the space is an all-white palette, interrupted in places by raw concrete and iroko wood, a presence that grounds the space’s impressive height to a more human scale. Only the most essential of free-standing furniture was brought in, allowing its loft-like proportions and accompanying minimalist aesthetic to take centre stage.
Spanish architecture studio Arrova was founded in 2018, and work between their studios in Pamplona and Zurich.
Photography © Iñaki Bergera for Arrova