Small Attic: A Sunken-Lounge Apartment in Gràcia, Barcelona

Perched atop an old building in the leafy Gràcia neighborhood of Barcelona, Small Attic is a compact, cleverly reimagined apartment by NORA Studio. Once a water deposit and later an abandoned penthouse, the space was in poor condition before its transformation. The architects reinvented the interior to create a distinctive living experience: instead of stepping down from the home onto a terrace, the terrace sits at a higher level, turning the interior into a sunken—or “conversation pit” style—living area that flows directly toward the exterior.

Terrace on a higher level turns the entire small apartment into a sunken lounge of sorts!

The layout is intentionally simple and efficient. A few steps lead up from the sunken living area to a generous terrace crowned by a large pergola. This elevated terrace contains an outdoor dining area and a built-in kitchen, which together extend the apartment’s functional footprint. The pergola not only provides essential shade in Barcelona’s warm climate but also creates privacy and a sheltered outdoor room that feels like a natural continuation of the interior.

Inside, the plan focuses on multifunctional elements and clean lines. The main room houses a single-wall kitchen along one side and a sleeping area on the opposite side, where a floating bed and compact shelving work as both storage and spatial separators. Drawers under the bed and bespoke cabinets throughout the space keep clutter out of sight, maximizing usable floor area while maintaining a calm, uncluttered aesthetic.

Gorgeous single-wall kitchen with brick wall backdrop inside the small attic apartment

Materiality plays an important role in the apartment’s character. Exposed brick walls and preserved wooden ceiling beams provide palpable texture and warmth, contrasting with sleek, modern fittings in the kitchen and bathroom. Folding glass doors open the sunken living area toward the terrace, letting in abundant daylight and allowing the interior and exterior to function as a single, flexible living zone when weather permits.

Old unused penthouse on top of Barcelona building turned into a space-savvy modern apartment

Furniture and built-ins are tailored to the apartment’s scale: a bench-style seat connects the living area to the terrace, blurring the boundary between inside and out, while custom shelving and cabinets respond to the sloped roof and existing structure. The bathroom and shower are tucked away but visually and functionally separate from the main living space, ensuring comfort and privacy without compromising the open-plan feel.

Multi-tasking interior with brick walls and wooden ceiling

Custom shelves, floating bed and other cabinets create a space-savvy apartment interior

Outside, the terrace acts as an additional room that’s as important to daily life as the interior itself. The outdoor kitchen and dining area make al fresco meals and relaxed entertaining effortless, while the pergola creates a comfortable, shaded environment. Altogether, the project demonstrates how careful planning, minimal interventions, and a strong focus on materials and multifunctional furniture can transform an overlooked rooftop into a generous, modern home.

Bathroom and shower area are separated from rest of the apartment interior

Bench style seating connects the living area with the terrace outside

Outdoor kitchen and dining area extend the apartment into the terrace

Pergola structure offers shade to the apartment even while extending the living area

Smart modern apartment in Barcelona where the terrace is as spacious as the home itself

Photography: Del Rio Bani