Located in the well-known residential neighborhood of El Sardinero in Santander—close to the local stadium and popular with regional football fans—the renovated RC34 House by Zooco Estudio reimagines a top-floor attic apartment with a fresh, contemporary approach. Perched above the city, the apartment takes full advantage of sweeping urban views and glimpses of the sea, and the redesign prioritizes light, openness and a carefully balanced material palette to make the compact space feel significantly larger than before.
The renovation centers on a new open floor plan that channels daylight into every room. Large glazed openings and strategically positioned interior voids allow natural light to travel deep into the layout, while a considered artificial lighting scheme enhances ambiance after dark. Together these elements create a bright, airy living environment that emphasizes the apartment’s views and visual connection to the nearby sea.
One of the most distinctive design elements is a custom oak shelving unit that defines and organizes the living zone. This central timber feature performs multiple roles: it acts as a spatial divider between public and private areas, provides layered storage and display, and transforms visually across the apartment as it reads differently from each vantage point. The oak’s warm tones soften the otherwise industrial character of exposed concrete, bringing a refined, tactile quality to surfaces and joinery—including doors and integral furniture—so the overall composition feels cohesive and balanced.
The choice of materials and colors is intentional: oak and concrete set the foundation of the scheme, while the presence of the sea and coastal light influenced accents of blue and yellow that complete the palette. The designers emphasize this chromatic relationship so that furnishings—like a striking blue sectional—pop against neutral concrete backdrops while remaining harmonized by timber tones that echo the surrounding landscape.
“The oak wood and the concrete become the leaders of the colours and textures palette. The importance of the sea, almost visible from every spot of the house, gives the argument to this palette. This way the blue and yellow complete the chromatic combination of the project.”
Practicality and spatial efficiency are woven into the layout. The oak storage and shelving system adapts to multiple uses—display, media, workspace and privacy screen—so that each square meter contributes to daily living without creating clutter. The redesigned floor plan also improves circulation and sightlines, connecting the living area, kitchen and sleeping quarters while preserving intimacy where needed.
The RC34 House is a strong example of how a modest attic apartment can be transformed through considered material choices, multi-functional furniture and daylight-driven planning. The result is a modern, welcoming home that honors its coastal context—bringing the sea into the design through color and light—while delivering practical storage solutions and a comfortable, stylish living environment.
Photography: Imagen Subliminal.