Raúl Sánchez inserts A new layer within a 19th-century narrative
In Mataró, near Barcelona, Spain, architect Raúl Sánchez reworks La Casa del Pirata, a residence shaped by the life of 19th century privateer Manuel Cuyás, inserting a precise contemporary layer within its richly ornamented interiors. The intervention focuses on the main domestic rooms, where painted ceilings, decorative wallpapers, and inherited portraits are retained, allowing the historical atmosphere of the residence to remain fully present.
The project is organized around a stainless steel plinth that runs along the perimeter of the rooms, thickening to accommodate seating, desks, storage, and technical systems. Rather than introducing multiple elements, this unified structure consolidates the contemporary layer into one readable move. Its reflective surface captures fragments of the existing interiors, establishing a dialogue between the polished and the aged, the precise and the irregular.
all images by José Hevia
stainless steel ‘pier’ anchors la casa del pirata in Mataró, spain
Instead of restoring surfaces to a pristine condition, in this project the Barcelona-based design practice accepts wear as part of the architectural language. Cracks, uneven textures, and signs of previous alterations remain visible across ceilings, walls, and floors. This approach avoids turning the house into a static reconstruction, allowing it to operate as a layered environment where different moments in time coexist without hierarchy.
Mirrored panels extend the spatial depth, doubling the ornate ceilings and embedding historical elements within the new intervention. Moments of color, such as a saturated yellow table and vivid accents in objects and finishes, introduce a contemporary rhythm that contrasts with the muted tones of the existing fabric. The living area accommodates both domestic and working routines, with integrated furniture supporting a flexible use of space.
By concentrating its intervention into a single material system and leaving the rest largely untouched, Raúl Sánchez Architects frames heritage as an evolving condition rather than a fixed image. The house is not restored to a specific moment in the past, but continues to absorb new layers of use and meaning. In this sense, the renovation does not conclude the story of the pirate’s house, but extends it into the present.
allowing traces of time to coexist with new insertions
a continuous stainless steel plinth wraps the room
restored wallpapers, portraits, and ornate ceilings remain intact
the stainless steel surface integrate seating, storage, and workspace within the historic interior
original elements frame the new steel intervention
reorganizing the living space without altering the existing envelope
mirrored cabinetry reflects the decorated ceilings
the intervention establishes a dialogue between reflective steel surfaces and aged materials
a concealed storage system opens to reveal a yellow lacquered interior
the living area accommodates both domestic and working routines
the project balances preservation and transformation through a single, continuous material gesture
a red lacquered dining table introduces a bold contemporary layer against historic wood paneling
existing timber wainscoting and artwork are preserved
integrated furniture elements
project info:
project name: La Casa del Pirata
architect: Raúl Sánchez Architects | @raulsanchezarchitects
location: Mataró, Spain
photographer: José Hevia
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