Boulevard 6 by Ortega Diago
Designed by Gonzalo Sánchez Ortega and Armando Diago of Ortega Diago, Boulevard 6 reimagines a 90-square-metre apartment within a century-old building overlooking San Sebastián's iconic Boulevard.
The renovation embraces the confidence of Mid-Century Modernism, introducing a bold material language that sits comfortably alongside the home's historic architecture. Light, shadow and carefully chosen finishes shape an interior that feels both timeless and distinctly contemporary.
The apartment occupies a long, narrow footprint connecting two contrasting urban conditions. Living spaces face the tree-lined Boulevard, drawing in natural light and views of the surrounding greenery, while the bedrooms are positioned at the quieter rear of the building overlooking a pedestrian street. Extensive structural reinforcement and floor levelling restored the proportions of the original residence, allowing its generous ceiling heights and architectural character to be experienced once again.
Working with the home's linear plan, Ortega Diago removed unnecessary partitions to strengthen the connection between rooms and encourage light to travel deeper into the interior. The changing interplay between brightness and shadow becomes a defining feature, reinforcing the home's sense of depth while celebrating the qualities of the original early twentieth-century architecture.
Materiality plays an equally important role in shaping the home's identity. A fully stainless steel kitchen forms the visual centrepiece, its reflective surfaces capturing daylight and drawing the greenery outside into the heart of the home. This crisp metallic finish is balanced by ebonised pine flooring stained almost black, introducing warmth, texture and visual weight throughout the apartment. The restrained palette focuses on contrast over colour, creating an atmosphere that feels calm, refined and enduring.
Mid-century furniture has been thoughtfully integrated as part of the architectural composition. A dining table and chairs by Johannes Andersen for CFC Silkeborg sit alongside Marcel Breuer's armchair for Knoll International, while Eileen Gray's iconic side table for Cassina adds another layer of design history. Technical lighting by Artemide and Tadaima complements these classic pieces, demonstrating how enduring design continues to coexist naturally with contemporary living.
Boulevard 6 presents a confident interpretation of heritage renovation, where historic architecture and modern craftsmanship exist in quiet conversation. Through a disciplined material palette, restored proportions and a carefully considered collection of furnishings, Ortega Diago has created a home that honours its past while embracing a distinctly modern way of living.
