Casa POP, developed by the Gon Architects project team, is based on the idea that there is no universal user model, requiring architecture to adapt to unique lifestyles. The initial property was a 78 m² apartment in Vicálvaro, built in the 2000s following traditional nuclear family standards, which resulted in an excessively divided layout full of corridors.
This old configuration became unsuitable for the owners, Santiago and Ángel, a couple whose routine revolves around cultural activities, leisure, and knowledge. To meet their needs, the project reconfigured the narrow apartment, transforming it into a more spacious and illuminated place.
The new spatial arrangement adopted a 'U' shape, centered around a main storage core. This arrangement allows for continuous circulation through the property in a clockwise direction, enabling different uses, from the most social to the most intimate areas, to be distributed fluidly.
In topological terms, the residence was conceived as a sequence of five smaller, autonomous environments. Each of these spaces is dedicated to a specific function—whether cooking, resting, or dressing—and all are bathed in a distinct color that permeates walls, ceiling, and furniture. This chromatic saturation modifies the perception of space and serves as a living metaphor that exalts the sensory aspect.
A fundamental component of the house is a large custom-made shelf in opal green, which extends across the living and dining room. Besides serving to display the couple's book collection, this shelf hides a system of translucent sliding doors. When opened, these doors create long diagonal lines connecting the interior to the city view; when closed, they increase privacy and make the bedrooms look like soft lanterns at night.
The design was enhanced with custom-made furniture that minimizes the need for loose pieces, such as a yellow ceramic headboard and the work table. Finally, the project incorporates the owners' visual references: the choice of color palette is directly inspired by a scene from the film Next Door, directed by Pedro Almodóvar, giving the space the cinematic gaze they desired and proving that architecture can be a personal record.
