BATAVIA
- Architecture, interior design and construction: ÁBATON
A palace converted into an avant-garde space
The Madrid renovation of the BATAVIA store has found its home in a place 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 Calle Mejía Lequerica, 2. In its recent transformation, this old building has been revitalized, masterfully combining the serene and the provocative. The result is a space where opposites are reconciled, merging the past and the present, the artistic and the commercial. BATAVIA, a pioneer in the world of design and furniture, thus reaffirms its unique and transgressive 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.”
A dialogue between ancient and modern
For this ambitious comprehensive renovation, the architectural firm ÁBATON was in charge of transforming the 400 square meters of space, creating a clean, functional and elegant exhibition environment. The challenge was to preserve the essence of the place, maintaining its most characteristic elements after more than 110 years of use as a hardware store. In this process, original floors, some of the walls and the old shelves were recovered, giving the space an unmistakable historical air. At the same time, the modern intervention is notable for the use of emphatic steel openings that perforate the thick load-bearing walls of the palace, creating a striking visual transition between the different environments.
“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 life
One of the main objectives of the renovation was to make the most of the natural light that bathes the interior of the palace. Each room was designed with the purpose of creating distinct environments that invite visitors to feel at home. The arrangement of the carefully selected furniture gives life to settings that are closer to a home than to a conventional store. These environments display an exquisite selection of unique European and Asian 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 presents its own collections, designed and produced exclusively.
The gift section: a tribute to history
Upon entering the store, visitors will find one of the most striking areas: the section dedicated to gifts, the undisputed protagonist of this new phase. Strategically located at the entrance of the space, this section recovers the original storage shelves of the old hardware store, thus integrating the history of the palace with modern functionality. These shelves display a carefully selected collection of designer gifts, where each object is a testament to good taste and creativity.
