The Casa Plató renovation in Barcelona’s Gràcia neighbourhood has preserved a famous film set. In the world of cinema, locations often become characters in their own right. This is certainly true for a specific dwelling in the heart of Barcelona’s Gràcia neighbourhood, which has recently starred in Carlos Marques-Marcet’s Polvo serán and Carla Simón’s short film Carta a mi madre para mi hijo. Known locally as ‘Casa Plató‘, this atmospheric property has just undergone a sensitive renovation by local studio h3o Architects. The project makes it a modern home without extinguishing its cinematic soul.
A Cinematic Discovery
The Casa Plató renovation began with a serendipitous conversation between neighbours. The architects—Joan Gener, Adrià Orriols, and Miquel Ruiz—could see the property from their own studio windows nearby. When the owner mentioned plans to gut the interior for a complete modernisation, the architects were compelled to intervene. Upon visiting, they found a space frozen in time. It was filled with historic wallpaper, antique furniture, and a palpable sense of history that had attracted so many film scouts.
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“It was a miracle that something like this had been preserved,” explains Joan Gener. The team realised that stripping the house would mean losing the very essence that gave it value. Therefore, the client agreed to a new vision. This renovation would render the house comfortable for 21st-century living while maintaining its status as a viable film set.
Layers of History
The building itself is a tapestry of Barcelona’s architectural past. Originally an early 19th-century masía (farmhouse) that predates the urbanisation of Gràcia, it was remodelled in the 1920s by a returning ‘Indiano’—a Spaniard who had made his fortune in Cuba. This layer added a balustrade, stained glass, and an astronomical observation tower to the structure.
The resulting interior was somewhat chaotic. It retained the memory of its agricultural roots beneath the 1920s grandeur. The renovation strategy, completed on a budget of approximately €160,000, focused on distinct zones. ‘Heritage’ areas were treated with conservationist care. Essential installations were updated while the aesthetic was left untouched. Meanwhile, other spaces were subtly remodelled or newly added to improve light and flow.
Blurring Old and New
The dining room, instantly recognisable from the family scenes in Polvo serán, was the most protected space. Its distinctive wallpaper, plaster mouldings, and hydraulic floor tiles were meticulously preserved. Meanwhile, the kitchen underwent a ‘mixed’ transformation. One side retains original marble worktops and tiling; the other features a new extraction hood and modern tiling that mimics the existing aesthetic. This new tiling was painted to simulate the yellowing of age, ensuring the distinction between old and new remains ambiguous.
The architects also introduced a new bathroom that departs from the vintage warmth. They opted for a clinical, almost ‘sanatorium’ aesthetic inspired by Le Corbusier and the hygienist movement. Dominated by curved shapes and metal, it fits the local modernist context. In addition, it offers a stark, cinematic contrast to the rest of the home.
Ready for the Close-Up
Crucially, the Casa Plató renovation improved the house’s connection to its expansive garden. This is a surprising green lung in the city centre featuring goose huts and a period fountain. New openings were created to allow light to penetrate the formerly dark interiors. These included a ‘false painting’ that conceals a window.
Completed late last summer, the success of the project was confirmed recently. The architects spotted production lights in the living room once again. “We are very happy because that means we have done the job well,” says Gener. Consequently, Casa Plató remains a comfortable residence. However, when the cameras roll, it is still the star of the show.
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