Apartment for sale in Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i La Ribera, Barcelona city, Barcelona

A restored apartment with three French balconies and rooftop terrace access

Close to Parc de la Ciutadella and overlooking Carrer de la Princesa, this one-of-a-kind apartment in El Born is being sold by its owners, a Swedish-South African design and sustainability duo whose work spans a decade of international projects. Their thoughtful restoration reflects not only patience and care, but also a genuine affection for the space and its history.

Rather than stripping everything back and starting over, they chose a slower and more considered approach, bringing the apartment back to its essence while carefully reworking it throughout. Original details were preserved wherever possible, while recovered elements and natural, breathable materials were introduced with equal care, guided by a desire to create a healthier home and avoid unnecessary chemicals and synthetic materials.

The apartment offers 64 sqm of built area and brings together two bedrooms, a studio, a living room, a kitchen and dining area, and a bathroom. Three French balconies, arranged on both sides of the apartment, open the home towards the streets and draw in the atmosphere of El Born, while access to a shared rooftop terrace adds another dimension to the experience of living here, with views stretching towards the Sagrada Família, Montserrat, and other Barcelona landmarks.

What gives this home its distinct character is the story behind the restoration. Across the apartment, materials and objects were chosen not only for how they look, but for what they carry with them and how they shape everyday life. The bathroom sink, for example, is a recovered fountain piece from a historic estate, while reclaimed stone and restored tiles were used to bring depth and continuity back into the spaces. Many of the colours in the apartment were drawn from original traces uncovered during the works, and every room was revisited repeatedly, often several times over, until the balance felt right.

The result is an apartment that stands apart from the more formulaic renovations often found on the market. It feels personal, layered, and quietly distinctive, with a material richness that reveals itself gradually. There is a strong sense of identity throughout, but also warmth and ease, making it as appealing as a full-time home as it is a Barcelona pied-à-terre or second residence.

For its owners, this apartment marked the beginning of a broader journey, a first project in which restoration, reuse, and experimentation came together in a lived space. With that experience now behind them, their attention is already turning towards a larger future project.

Set in one of the city’s most sought-after central neighborhoods, close to the park, the sea, and the historic fabric of the old town, this is a rare opportunity to acquire an El Born apartment with soul, story, and a very particular point of view.