Design Duality: Penthouse Renovation in Madrid by Estudio Reciente.

There’s something special about how this Madrid penthouse plays with contrasts. Located in the charming Chamberí neighbourhood, the 120-square-metre renovation embraces duality in a captivating manner.

The project’s genius lies in how it divides spaces without dividing them at all. Instead of typical partitions, Estudio Reciente has used a clever interplay of materials and colours to delineate different zones while maintaining an open, light-filled environment.

Walking into the entrance hall, one is immediately greeted by the project’s core concept—rich oak wood panelling alongside bold green walls and striking avocatus marble. This deliberate contrast continues through the hallway, where a mirrored wall cleverly conceals the bathroom entrance.

No Stone Unturned: OR23 in Madrid by Estudio Reciente.

This Madrid home enhances every hour of the day, and I bet Estudio Reciente knew exactly what they were doing when they put these materials in conversation with each other.

Inside that bathroom, the red Alicante marble washbasin, mosaic tile joints, and high-gloss ceiling create a warm, vibrant atmosphere that feels like a deliberate departure from conventional bathroom design.

The kitchen is our favourite space—a stainless steel countertop that reflects the intense red Palet tiling creates one of the most character-filled zones in the apartment. These bold red tones extend to frame the column and beam connecting the kitchen and dining areas, creating a natural threshold between spaces.

Moving toward the living room and study, the palette shifts dramatically to calmer, neutral finishes in a perfect counterbalance. The terrace brings back those gorgeous green tones from the entrance through a system of Barcelona blinds doubling as a retractable pergola.

Casa Rubens in San Lorenzo del Escorial by Estudio Reciente.

Estudio Reciente’s Casa Rubens has been converted into a lovely holiday home for a family of four. Touches of bright colours draw on summer dreams and nostalgic tones reminiscent of milkshakes and ice creams...

In the private zone, that signature green extends down the hallway into the bedroom, interrupted only by the black woodwork and fluted glass doors of the second study. The bedroom features oak panelling as a headboard, while the ensuite bathroom combines brown micro-cement surfaces with an onyx marble sink that brings brightness to the space.

This renovation cleverly embraces contrasts to create distinction without disconnection. Light flows freely, emphasising the subtle relationships between spaces rather than hiding them behind walls. It’s a thoughtful approach to modern living that equally respects privacy and openness.

1920s Apartment Renovation in Madrid by Estudio Reciente.

Taking inspiration from Johannes Brinkman’s Sonneveld House, Estudio Reciente inject a healthy dose of contrasting tones and materials in this Madrid apartment full of clandestine surprises.

[Images courtesy of Estudio Reciente. Photography by Germán Saiz.]