GE APARTMENT
Balzar Arquitectos
ARCHITECTS
Balzar Arquitectos
LEAD ARCHITECTS
Balzar Architects
PHOTOGRAPHS
David Zarzoso
AREA
300 m²
YEAR
2025
CATEGORY
Renovation
English description provided by the architects.
Next to the iconic Colón Market, in the heart of Valencia, stands a series of modernist buildings from the late 19th century.
Their facades, rich in ironwork, stained glass, and moldings, speak of an era when the city experienced a cultural and aesthetic awakening driven by the strength of the Valencian bourgeoisie. It was a time of floral motifs, the celebration of local identity, and a dialogue with nature that inspired Art Nouveau.
Against this backdrop, the GE Apartment was born—a renovation that does not seek to erase the past, but rather to converse with it.
The project begins with a respect for the protected existing elements (original moldings, ceramic tile floors, stained glass, and woodwork) to weave a new narrative around them: that of a contemporary classic.
Each room becomes an encounter between centuries, where history and the present coexist in balance, free from nostalgia or ostentation.
The home breathes a wabi-sabi aesthetic, celebrating the beauty of the imperfect and the ephemeral.
Natural materials (travertine, wood, lime, linen, and wool) evoke the calm and honesty of the passage of time.
Textures speak louder than colors; the filtered, warm light makes the invisible visible: the serenity of an authentic space.
The furniture reinforces this timeless narrative. Together with the owners, who are true design enthusiasts, a careful selection of vintage pieces from Nekonato Gallery was curated, featuring works by Percival Lafer, Sergio Rodrigues, and Alvar Aalto.
These pieces dialogue with contemporary designs by Vincent Van Duysen and Viabizzuno.
Custom-designed furniture, conceived as a natural extension of the architecture, joins this conversation, merging material, form, and function seamlessly.
The resulting collection does not seek to impose itself, but rather to accompany the space with subtlety and balance.
In essence, the GE Apartment is a story of respect and balance: a tribute to modernist Valencia and a serene look toward imperfect beauty.
