In Santa Catalina, a dense, historically layered neighborhood in the heart of Palma, OHLOCAL Studio set out to do something deceptively simple: design a home that feels calm.

Not through decoration. Not through restraint as a style choice. But through decisions made at the structural level, clear layout, consistent materials, balanced proportions, that allow a 92 m² apartment to breathe and function as a coherent whole.

The kitchen is where that logic becomes most visible. Rather than being placed against a wall or treated as a separate functional zone, it sits at the center of the apartment, organizing how the space works. It connects the living areas. It structures daily movement. It makes the home make sense.

This is what happens when a kitchen is designed as part of the architecture from the start, not added afterward, not styled to blend in, but genuinely integrated into how a space is planned and experienced.

Three ideas shaped the project. The first is about calm as a spatial quality, how cohesion and order, not decoration, create a home that feels stable and livable in a busy urban context. The second is about how a product is made: OHLOCAL chose CUBRO not only for how it looks, but for what it represents, local Spanish production, collaboration with nearby stone suppliers, a conscious approach to waste, and construction built to last. The third is about flexibility: an open layout that doesn't assign permanent roles to spaces, so the home can adapt as life changes, for one person, a couple, a family, without ever needing to be redesigned.

What follows is a conversation with the studio behind the project.

  • CUBRO 1
  • CUBRO 2
  • CUBRO 1

  • About Apartamento Calmo

    What was the initial brief for Apartamento Calmo?

    How did Palma’s local context or architectural history influence your approach?
    From the moment we first entered the space, it sparked a wealth of ideas. Our intention was to create a calm and warm retreat within an urban setting. Santa Catalina, one of Palma’s oldest neighborhoods, evolved from a fishermen’s and maritime quarter into a dynamic urban district. Shaped by its industrial past, it has grown into a vibrant and defining part of the city. Holding this layered history in mind, we followed our instinct to design a space where historic character and contemporary living coexist

    How did you approach the spatial layout?

    Were there specific constraints or opportunities in the existing plan?
    The layout presented a central challenge: how to design a home in the heart of the city that adapts to diverse lifestyles and family constellations. The solution was a flexible arrangement with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen fully integrated into an open living area, a spatial core designed to bring people together.

Materiality & Atmosphere:

How did you choose the material palette and finishes?
The use of local and natural materials was fundamental to the project. Working with Kerakoll allowed us to apply a natural finish for the flooring throughout the apartment, creating a cohesive material language. Interestingly, the bathrooms were not initially planned with tiles. However, after visiting Huguet, we reimagined both spaces to incorporate their products, seamlessly integrating them into Apartamento Calmo’s overall narrative.

Like the bathrooms, our thinking around the doors evolved during the process. We spent days traveling across the island in search of doors that could bridge modernity and tradition. Those journeys ultimately led us to introduce significantly larger doors, recreating the spatial atmosphere and sense of generosity we experienced along the way.

What emotions or qualities were you aiming to evoke in the space?
At the core of Apartamento Calmo lies one of its most personal elements: an integrated art space conceived as a living gallery. This curated collection reflects our connection to the island, bringing together objects discovered during our explorations of its many landscapes. Each piece holds a memory of a place, a moment, a story. More than decoration, the installation embodies slow wandering, local craftsmanship, and the beauty encountered along the journey

What made you choose to collaborate with CUBRO, and what did you see in our approach or products that aligned with your vision?

The kitchen concept evolved through our research into Santa Catalina’s history. We envisioned a space that reflects the area’s character while meeting high standards of quality, durability, and contemporary design. Working with Spanish production was essential. CUBRO’s waste conscious approach aligned perfectly with our values, combining craftsmanship, sustainability, and timeless aesthetics. Their collaboration with local stone manufacturers and their support from planning through completion made the decision a natural one

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Project:

Fantastic Frank x OHLOCAL Studio

Photographies:

Andrea Pomelli

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