Jaume, Anna, and Eugeni Bach have restored and expanded a modernist building in Barcelona, devising a careful coexistence that avoids conflict. They have achieved this by recovering its artistic finishes and expanding its use. 

Jaume, Anna, and Eugeni Bach have revitalized the Casa Alesan, a modernist building by Enric Fatjó i Torras next to Josep Puig i Cadafalch’s Palau Macaya. This renovation is not just a rescue of the existing heritage, but also a reimagining of its future beyond mere preservation. The architects have maintained various artistic crafts involved in the original construction, from marble workers to glassmakers, all of whom Dolors Arsen trusted with her home’s appearance. The renovated Casa Alesan retains its original hydraulic floors and a ceiling that filters light onto the staircase. Revived plaster decorations adorn the ceilings, and the facade’s galleries showcase timeless stained glass that appears new. The building, however, has been transformed. Today, in addition to the original rooms, it houses an additional 16 apartments and two duplexes. This expansion, only visible from the courtyard, doubles the number of residences without losing the property’s character. The building’s restoration and existing finishes contrast with the redefinition of space boundaries and the addition of volume at the top. This addition aims to be neutral but not cold, announced in the lobby by vertical wooden slats that change to half-round ceramic on the roof, abstractly connecting with the artisan crafts. This renovation thread is both material and chromatic, leading up to the roof where the recessed body houses the new apartments. The addition acts almost as a guardian, preserving the building and projecting it towards a vibrant, non-static future.