BATAVIA
- Architecture, interior design and construction: ÁBATON
A palace converted into an avant-garde space
The renovation of the BATAVIA store in Madrid found its home in a location as iconic as it is unique: the Palacio de Villagonzalo, also known as the Palacio de Santa Bárbara. This majestic mid-19th-century building is located in the heart of Madrid, at 2 Calle Mejía Lequerica. During its transformation, this historic property was revitalized, blending history with modernity. The result is a space where opposites come together, blending the past and the present, the artistic and the commercial. BATAVIA, a pioneer in the world of design and furniture, has thus reaffirmed its unique and boundary-pushing character.
“The choice of the Villagonzalo Palace was key to create a space where the past and the present could dialogue in a fluid way. We wanted the history of the building to be another protagonist in this proposal.”
Since 2020, ÁBATON and BATAVIA have joined forces within the ÁBATON Interior Design division to offer a unique and personalized service, ensuring consistency and quality in every project and bringing together key elements that make each space one-of-a-kind.
A dialogue between ancient and modern
For this ambitious, comprehensive renovation, we sought to transform the 400-square-meter space, creating a clean, functional, and elegant exhibition environment. The challenge was to preserve the essence of the place, retaining its most distinctive features after more than 110 years of use as a hardware store. As part of this process, the original floors, some of the walls, and the old shelves were restored, giving the space an unmistakable historic feel. At the same time, the modern design stands out for its use of bold steel openings that pierce the palace’s thick load-bearing walls, creating a striking visual transition between the different spaces.
“Taking advantage of natural light was essential. Our goal was to create environments that, more than a store, evoked the warmth of a home, with unique pieces that told their own story.”
A Space for Light and Design
BATAVIA: An Icon of Interior Design
One of the main goals of the BATAVIA renovation was to make the most of the natural light that floods the palace’s interior. Each room was designed to create distinct atmospheres that invite visitors to feel at home. The arrangement of the carefully selected furniture brought to life settings that felt more like a home than a conventional store. These spaces showcased an exquisite selection of unique international pieces, as well as original Nordic furniture from the 1950s and the latest contemporary creations from the world’s most avant-garde design firms. In addition, BATAVIA presented its own collections here, designed and produced exclusively for the store.
BATAVIA’s gift section: a tribute to history
The section dedicated to BATAVIA gifts—an undisputed highlight of the stadium—was strategically located at the entrance to the space. This section repurposed the original storage shelves from the old hardware store, thereby blending the palace’s history with modern functionality. These shelves displayed a carefully curated collection of designer gifts, a testament to good taste and creativity.
Our colleagues from the BATAVIA team are now joining us from the ÁBATON Interior Design team. Get to know them.
- ÁBATON Team: Carlos Alonso, Fernando Alonso, Jesus Ágreda, Jorge Porto
- Photography: Juan Baraja, Belén Imaz
