Myriam Larrea has designed the new BASQUE LUXURY headquarters
Myriam Larrea has designed the new BASQUE LUXURY headquarters
After several years of prolonged growth, the construction of the new headquarters for BASQUE LUXURY finally materialized in 2018. When it was time to select the person that would be in charge of designing the new studio, there was no debate – it was clear that the job was to be given to Myriam Larrea. This decorator and interior designer has an extensive background that includes all kinds of projects: houses, hotels, villas, etc., always looking for unique spaces.
Our new showroom would have to be a versatile space where our work of editing BASQUE LUXURY MAGAZINE could be combined with our hosting of events and forums. The location was also fundamental, as we were looking for our new offices to be surrounded by business partners (publishers, printing houses, photo studios, etc.) and to offer parking facilities. The space selected was a retail space at street level in the Igara business district of San Sebastian, in one of the most representative buildings: the Bonea Building.
The space, with a surface area of 120 m2 and whose ceilings are 5.50 m high, was initially a completely open space and had nothing to define its interior layout. Myriam presented a project design with the space divided into two levels, with a large central area on the ground floor and a beautiful balcony running around the edge of the mezzanine floor; both spaces having quite different uses: the ground floor for public use and the mezzanine floor for the workers’ private use. The main floor has a beautiful entrance hall accompanied by a coat room and a storage area. Later there is a central office area where the company’s daily tasks are undertaken, giving way to a fantastic room with high ceilings intended to be used as an auditorium. Both multi-function spaces can be separated or joined –depending on the occasion– thanks to large, sliding panels that allow for the space’s versatility.
Myriam suggested a contemporary facility with an atelier that would have a homey look, a place where both workers and guests could feel at home. This is a rising trend amongst the big luxury brands; an example of this is AP House, which the prestigious Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet has just opened on Serrano Street in Madrid: a shop with the look of an exclusive house that customers can use to schedule business appointments in or to enjoy lunch with friends.
To achieve that cozy, comfortable, inviting look, the heart of the headquarters is equipped with large windows overlooking a rear garden; all of this is surrounded by warm tones, and support comes from the kitchen which opens towards a large lounge area.
As this was going to be the headquarters of BASQUE LUXURY, the space needed to convey the intrinsic values that the name implies. Basque character has been achieved through the use of fine materials: oak, present both in the flooring of the mezzanine and in the steps of the staircase. Likewise, some elements, such as the snack area in the kitchen and the vanity of the courtesy bathroom, have been finished off in scorched oak. This is a new technique that brings a certain original character to the material’s robustness, respecting its natural organic forms.
For the furniture, we had the privilege of working with a well-known Basque design firm, Stua, which provided us with furniture made entirely in the Basque Country. These are pieces that perfectly adapt to the space in terms of their shape, appearance, and texture; using a mixture of leather pieces with the softness of wool pieces, with the colors coming together in perfect dialog with the space.
The fine materials, porcelain finishes, and lighting fixtures –along with the glass of the balcony and the doors– have all contributed to creating an exquisite, serene space.
Myriam created a design in which the intrinsic elements of the retail space that we chose (such as the concrete columns and floor slabs, as well as the metal structure of the mezzanine) offer an industrial look and, in turn, the classicism of the moldings and the warmth of the colors, pieces, and little touches help to lower the tone and perfectly bring everything into balance. The result has yielded a contained space that is exemplary in terms of its practicality.
Art is another important element at BASQUE LUXURY STUDIO; in particular, art by contemporary Basque artists. The space permanently displays the paintings and sculptures that are part of the BASQUE LUXURY Art Collection, featuring pieces by Jorge Cardarelli, Alfredo Bikondoa, Frederic Gutiérrez Barde, Iñigo Manterola, and Miguel Balliache, amongst others, and it is also used to host temporary exhibitions. Additionally, for the studio’s foyer, Víctor Goikoetxea created a spectacular piece of art measuring 20 m2 that completely covers the main wall of the lobby. This large-scale thermoformed piece done in a gold tone provides that “wow effect” that our facilities needed.
Inaugurated at the end of 2018, BASQUE LUXURY STUDIO was the most ambitious project undertaken by Myriam during the last year, but not the only one. While directing work at this site, she finished up the renovation of a home on Miracruz Street in San Sebastian, as well as a fantastic renovation in Vitoria and an exclusive villa that was built brand new on the side of Mount Igueldo. All of these jobs showcase her personal, contemporary style that adapts to the realities of the space and the client without having a cookie-cutter appearance.
From her studio –a unique space with two floors on Paseo Colon in San Sebastian– Myriam designs interiors that stand out because of their originality in terms of materials, textures, volumes, and excellent lighting. Her company is a surefire bet for any private individual or company seeking to live or work in a luxurious space.
Myriam Larrea
Paseo Colón 12, Bajo, San Sebastián.
