GOB17 Apartment | DG Arquitecto + Gosende Navarro Studio | Valencia, Spain

Transatlantic Transformation Rooted in Mediterranean Light

In this meticulously planned renovation and interior design project, the Valencia-based firm DG Arquitecto in collaboration with Gosende Navarro Studio revitalizes a historic apartment in the heart of Valencia's Historical District. Hidden textures, original materials, and spatial nuances—long concealed by decades of renovations—have been carefully uncovered and reinterpreted.

The project titled GOB17 was commissioned by a family who moved from New York, known as the Big Apple, to Valencia, which The New York Times calls one of the world's best cities to live in. This move symbolizes not only a geographical transition but also an emotional and cultural journey—from the intensity of Manhattan's grid to the calm rhythm of the Mediterranean Sea.

From New York Rationalism to Mediterranean Rhythm

GOB17 embodies the shift from the calculated rationalism of American architecture in the mid-20th century to the expressive warmth of Mediterranean design. The project reflects a dialogue between order and impulsiveness, rigidity and fluidity, precision and poetry.

The family's search for the right home became the design process itself. Under the guidance of DG Arquitecto and Gosende Navarro Studio, they carefully evaluated several properties before discovering the hidden gem in a 19th-century building near River Turia Park. The apartment occupies a privileged corner position, offering double facades and a tranquil inner courtyard filled with greenery.

Its irregular floor plan—full of angles, shifts, and unexpected alignments—reflects the organic nature of historical urban development. Unlike Manhattan's rigid grid layout, designed by the committee of Randal, Morris, Rutherford and De Vita to ensure light, air, and order, the old district of Valencia embraces asymmetry and charm.

Design Concept: Unveiling Layers of History

DG Arquitecto's approach did not aim to erase history but rather unveil it. The renovation process revealed hidden layers, allowing past and present to coexist in harmony. Architects created two main volumetric elements, organizing and connecting the spaces. These elements set the flow of the apartment, establishing visual continuity and rhythm, while respecting the original structure.

Strategically placed outside the existing masonry, new insertions highlight the contrast between heritage and modernity, giving historical walls room to breathe. Natural light filters through them, intensifying the interaction between hardness and void.

Materials and Atmosphere: Between Hardness and Warmth

The choice of materials tells the dual identity of the project. The original structure—with its thick walls and eternal geometry—awakens the spirit of Roman peristyle, where a central, well-lit space defines the character of the house. Here matte white surfaces emphasize clarity and timelessness, compensating for the weight of historical construction.

New contemporary elements bring warmth and tactility.

• Oak veneer is used in custom furniture and kitchen cabinets.

• Textured terracotta tiles add a Mediterranean tradition to the space.

• Ivy quartzite adds sophistication to the palette, perfectly complementing brass details, reflecting and enhancing natural light.

The dialogue between materials is one of contrast and continuity—heavy and light, rough and smooth, historical and modern. Together they create a calm and cozy atmosphere, bridging the rational precision of contemporary design with the sensuality of Mediterranean life.

Living Space That Honors Its Past

Through this renovation, DG Arquitecto and Gosende Navarro Studio weave together Valencia's architectural heritage with a modern studio. GOB17 reflects the city itself—historical yet forward-looking, elegant and accessible, eternal yet alive.

Creating an atmosphere of material authority, spatial rhythm, and Mediterranean light, the project transforms a typical apartment into a urban sanctuary—a quiet home for a family whose story spans continents.

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