Recovering the Soul of the Eixample: Catalan Vault and Nolla Mosaic

Acquiring an apartment in Barcelona's Eixample is making a statement of intent. The high ceilings, the bright galleries, and the history embedded in its walls make it one of the most coveted districts in Europe. However, as a high-end renovation company in Barcelona, we know that these properties hide formidable technical challenges.

The Catalan Vault (Volta Catalana)

Under plaster false ceilings installed in the 70s and 80s, the iconic Catalan vaults made of clay tiles, supported by wooden or iron beams, often wait untouched.

The technical process: Uncovering must be surgical. After stripping, we apply low-pressure sandblasting or manual brushing to avoid damaging the century-old ceramic. Wooden beams are treated against wood-boring pests (woodworm, termites) and structurally reinforced if deflection is present. Finally, a transparent, fire-retardant matte varnish is applied to stop dust shedding without altering its natural look.

Hydraulic Tiles and Nolla Mosaic

Lifting old linoleum to find an original hydraulic mosaic carpet is like finding treasure.

Restoring these floors requires highly specialized artisans. Polishing must be done with extra-fine diamond discs, followed by a sealing process to close the porous tile surface (which is highly absorbent) protecting it from oil or acid stains. When altering layouts, we use color-matched resins to fill "scars" in the floor pattern, or create elegant transitions using microcement or European oak.

The Challenge of Thermal and Acoustic Comfort

The weak point of a regal apartment is usually insulation. The original wooden windows are beautiful but thermally inefficient. At Nosolo Design, we use laminated wood joinery that replicates the 19th-century mouldings, but integrates argon-filled double glazing and double-seal weather stripping.

For air conditioning, we conceal aerothermal ducted systems above corridors and bathrooms, leaving noble spaces (living room and master bedrooms) visually clean, so that the main features remain the vault and natural light.