Àbag Studio builds contemporary comfort in a residence in Madrid’s Salamanca district through material, light and proportion

In Madrid, the Salamanca district offers one of the most recognisable images of urban life in the capital. Its orderly layout, the scale of its buildings and the continuity of its façades define a fabric where residential architecture has, over time, maintained a distinct character of elegance and permanence. 

Mártires Concepcionistas street is inscribed within this urban logic, combining the solidity of Madrid’s expansion district with an active and immediate everyday life. Here, this project by Àbag Studio is conceived as an intervention that works from within, understanding the dwelling as a system that can be reorganised to respond to contemporary needs without losing the identity of the place. It is in this balance between context and transformation that the proposal is situated, approaching interior design as a tool capable of organising space, intensifying light and constructing a domestic experience aligned with the character of the neighbourhood.

The project unfolds within a generous dwelling —over 230 m²— which allows spatial continuity to operate as its main argument, while also requiring a clear structure capable of organising the whole and giving meaning to each room.

The project is driven by the aim of constructing a domestic experience where light, proportion and materiality operate as a single system. This translates into an interior architecture understood through continuity, where each decision finds its place within an overarching logic that prioritises the legibility of space.

An open sequence for everyday living

The day area is organised as a fluid sequence connecting kitchen, dining room, living room and family room within a continuous flow. The plan enables uninterrupted circulation, generating a sustained perception of openness supported by the entry of natural light.

To structure this openness, a system of walnut lattice screens designed by Àbag Studio is introduced. These bespoke elements define areas without fragmenting them, build depth and filter views, while incorporating a vertical rhythm that accompanies movement. Their presence establishes a subtle order that allows each zone to be recognised without resorting to closed boundaries.

At the centre of this sequence, the kitchen takes on a leading role. The island, clad in Patagonia marble, becomes the focal point and acts as an organising element. Its highly expressive veining introduces a sculptural dimension that dialogues with the overall calm of the space. Around it, panelled cabinetry reinforces visual continuity, while an independent pantry, enclosed with laminated glass and natural linen, adds an additional layer of depth and texture.

Material and structure as language

The project relies on an envelope with structural presence, where concrete appears at strategic points. These elements, visible and deliberate, introduce a controlled tension within a palette dominated by warm materials and neutral tones. The coexistence of concrete, wood, textiles and mineral surfaces constructs an identity based on the balance between weight and lightness.

On the horizontal plane, the large-format herringbone oak flooring acts as a continuous element that organises the whole. Its layout incorporates border inlays that define areas of use, generating a precise reading without interrupting the unity of the space. This gesture is completed on the upper plane through recessed ceiling details that integrate indirect lighting, reinforcing the definition of each area through light.

Domestic scale and flexible programme

The dwelling is structured around a complete programme that responds to a contemporary way of living. Three en-suite bedrooms are complemented by a flexible space capable of adapting to different uses, whether as a study or an additional bedroom.

This organisation is complemented by two distinct living areas that expand the possibilities of everyday use. The main living room and the family room offer different degrees of intimacy, configuring diverse scenarios within a single home.

In the dining area, a built-in fireplace introduces a focal point that reinforces the domestic character of the space. Its presence, integrated and restrained, accompanies the scale of the whole and contributes to defining a welcoming atmosphere.

Material continuity in private spaces

The bathrooms extend the language of the project through a warm, mineral palette. Limestone basins provide density and presence, while backlit lighting constructs a soft and intimate atmosphere. The incorporation of matte black fittings and luminaires introduces a contemporary nuance that dialogues with stone and wood, maintaining the overall coherence of the project.

The intervention includes a selection of artworks developed in collaboration with Witt Art Gallery. The pieces —sculptures and paintings— are integrated into the architecture as active elements within the spatial sequence. Their presence expands the reading of the space and establishes a direct relationship between interior design and cultural content, where each work participates in the construction of the environment.

An architecture of precision

This project is built upon decisions that seek permanence. The dwelling proposes a way of living based on continuity, spatial clarity and attention to detail. Each element, from the structure to the furniture, is integrated into a coherent system that defines the project without resorting to isolated gestures.

The result is an interior that develops contemporary comfort through material, light and proportion. A space where architecture accompanies everyday life in a natural way, and where identity is constructed through coherence and precision.

Project: Mártires Concepcionistas.
Location: Barrio de Salamanca (Madrid).
Area: 234 m².
Completed: 2024.
Interior Architecture: Àbag Studio. Abel Pérez Gamucio.
Photography: Javier Bravo.
Source: Gablons.

Abel Pérez Gamucio. Àbag Studio

Abel Pérez Gabucio (Barcelona, 1979) develops his professional trajectory from a hybrid position between architecture and interior design, understood as a single design practice. Trained as a technical architect at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, with a period at VIA University, his early career is linked to large-scale structures such as IDOM and, later, the studio Jordà & Guasch. Within this context, he builds a solid technical foundation and a precise understanding of the construction process, which he later translates into a more domestic scale and a closer relationship with the user.

In 2008, he founded Abag Studio in Barcelona, initiating an independent practice defined by attention to detail, material continuity, and a clear commitment to shaping spaces grounded in everyday experience. The studio focuses its work on housing and residential interior design, where each commission becomes an opportunity to organise, simplify and bring coherence to existing spaces.

Abag’s architecture constructs balanced atmospheres, with a restrained palette and a materiality oriented towards permanence. Light, spatial continuity and precision in junctions define interiors that are perceived as natural.

In this sense, Abel Pérez Gabucio’s work operates along a line that integrates international references with a recognisable Mediterranean sensibility. His spaces incorporate a domestic warmth, where the texture of materials, the scale of furniture and the relationship with light shape environments designed to endure over time. The notion of timelessness emerges here as a consequence of the process.

The studio has developed a methodology that combines technical rigour with closeness to the client. Each project is built through dialogue, understanding every home as a specific scenario requiring tailored responses. This attention to the user translates into clear solutions, where layout, storage and circulation are resolved naturally, allowing the space to adapt to everyday life.

Today, Abag Studio maintains a consolidated practice in residential interior design in Barcelona and its surroundings, with a body of work defined by coherence and continuity. Each project reinforces a way of working grounded in precision, material honesty and a deep understanding of contemporary living.

Project by Abel Pérez Gabucio. Abag Studio