Cristina & Manuel

Cristina and Manuel contacted us from Madrid to assist them in finding a home in the center of Alicante and later adapt it to their needs. There was an immediate special connection with them, and we understood the kind of individuals they are: cosmopolitan, restless, worldly people who live life to the fullest.

Cristina has reduced mobility and moves around in a wheelchair. She is a very independent person despite her circumstances. It was a new situation, a challenge for us, and we knew that we would have to create a custom home for them more than ever before. It has been a project in which every decision had to be validated to ensure that the house would become a home when they finally moved to Alicante.

Due to the location, the opportunity arose to purchase a home in a historic building on Doctor Gadea Avenue, a building that, in our opinion, aligned well with their personalities and lifestyle in terms of style. However, as with any major project, there was a drawback: the entrance hall was not adapted.

An extra challenge

The building's entrance hall was not accessible, so at Volta_, even though it's not our usual task, we decided to accept the challenge of making the entrance hall accessible. It wasn't an easy task, but with determination, anything is possible. At Volta_, we love Voltaire's quote that says, 'No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.

Knowing how to read pre-existences

We immediately fell in love with the concrete screens that support the building, as well as the original wooden carpentry and other pre-existing elements such as the tiled terrace.

The layout of the house was strongly influenced by a chaotic structure formed by concrete screens, although it was relatively easy for us to adapt it to Cristina and Manuel's needs. The main circulation in the house is a diagonal line that runs from the rear patio and kitchen to the terrace. This diagonal element imparts a very special dynamism to the house, which we reinforced by laying the wooden flooring in that orientation.

The character of the pre-existing elements has been enhanced with some of the materials used. On one hand, the special reddish-toned Dossier wooden flooring installed diagonally with boards of three different widths. On the other hand, the vitrified green tiling used in bathrooms and other spaces in the house, which reminds us of original materials from the construction of that era.

The terrace

We step out onto the terrace through a restored and motorized door. Here, we find a welcoming space with a wooden panelled ceiling, almost tropical in style. It's a space to enjoy the views of one of the city's prominent avenues and the sea.

We are all unique and irreplaceable, so we have tried to create a different space with character that would adapt to Cristina and Manuel's needs. We have put a lot of effort and love into every part of the process, and we are very pleased with the final result. Now, the most important thing remains: that they live, enjoy, and fill their new home in Alicante with life.