This is what the most luxurious residences in Barcelona are like (inside and out)

The new paradigm of luxury is based on experience, on a redefinition of exclusivity that sets aside ostentation to opt for the serene, the emotional, and the intimate. This sober yet sophisticated trend, very much akin to the Catalan capital, has turned Barcelona into the ideal setting where architectural and design references have projected premium residences that stand as watchtowers over the city. Far from opting for sheltered and tranquil enclaves, these new and privileged super-luxury residences are located in the very heart of the Catalan capital, in its commercial and reference epicenter.

This is the case of Mandarin Oriental Residences, a complex of 30 apartments and four penthouses, located at number 111 Paseo de Gràcia, which aspires to become the most exclusive residential building in the city. The property, the second tallest residential building in Barcelona, has been renovated under the seal of Catalan architect Carlos Ferrater who, together with his team from OAB studio, has captured the essence of the city and translated it into an innovative design, enveloping it in perforated sheet metal to favor the interior ventilation of the apartments.

The purity of its forms recalls the grid-like, open, and egalitarian structure of the Cerdà plan, which in 1860 laid the foundations for Barcelona's urban reform. The large openings of the 75-meter-high building now look out onto panoramic views over the Eixample neighborhood, the quintessence of urban excellence, before descending down the promenade among shops, restaurants, and city icons with a marked modernist seal, until reaching the network of streets of the Gòtic neighborhood.

The large openings of the 75-meter-high building now look out onto panoramic views over the Eixample neighborhood, the quintessence of urban excellence

The building, work by architect Santiago Balcells and inaugurated in 1961 as the headquarters of the Banco Comercial Transatlántico (BCT), was later occupied by the financial entity Deutsche Bank. Since 2014, the 20-story property has been owned by the investment fund KKH Property. And, from now on, the management will be handled by Mandarin Oriental, which has a team of 24 people in charge of facilitating residents' lives with all kinds of services.

Of the total of 34 homes that make up the complex, four of them have one bedroom, seventeen with two, and nine with three rooms. In addition, there are three penthouses and one grand penthouse, the latter being double-height and with a terrace that surrounds a large part of the building, making it the most prized property in the project.

All the homes are the first "branded residences" that Mandarin Oriental opens in continental Europe and they do so with an area ranging between 120 and 580 square meters, and whose interior design is carried out by the London studio Muza Lab, with Nathan Hutchins and Inge Moore at the helm.

The approach to dressing the interiors advocates a timeless aesthetic, rich in textures and noble materials ---wood and marble---, tinged with a dominant chromatic of neutral tones that gives much of the prominence to the openings and the play of lights between interior and exterior. Muza Lab's commitment to creating neutral spaces is materialized with sober and functional furniture that gives a great sense of warmth and comfort.

As a benchmark of new luxury, the project is based on sustainable construction, where every element is designed to offer high energy efficiency. In addition, along with the residential offering, tenants have at their disposal a series of exclusive facilities such as a fitness center, a spa center, a lounge-library, and a 600 square meter outdoor garden with a swimming pool, in keeping with the aesthetic of the residences. All of this accessible starting from 2.3 million euros, the starting price of the apartments.

Distinction next to the Mediterranean

With its gaze set on the city's skyline, the Antares tower is another great pillar that rises to the pinnacle of urban exclusivity to offer a residential proposal in line with that of its neighbor on Paseo de Gràcia. The recently renovated skyscraper, owned by the Shaftesbury Asset Management fund, stands at number 1 Plaza Llevant, at the beginning of Diagonal Mar, with a groundbreaking design by French architect Odile Decq.

With 28 floors, it is considered the tallest residential tower in Barcelona, from which to enjoy authentic 360-degree views with the Mediterranean as the main protagonist, not only as part of the environment but as a source of inspiration. The architect drew on its influence to design the elegantly curved terraces, which give the building its distinctive look, and the interior, whose open-plan layout favors fluid movement between the living room, kitchen, and terrace.

Antares features residences with one to four bedrooms, duplexes, and penthouses whose area ranges from 98 to 386 square meters, and with private terraces ranging from 16 to 160 square meters. Each of the 88 residences has been designed with a sensory and visionary life in mind and has been equipped with custom-made pieces by the architect herself, from door handles to bathtubs, sinks, and kitchen islands, thus emphasizing her meticulous attention to detail.

For the furnishing of the project's first pilot floors, Decq was inspired by Barcelona painters Miró, Tàpies, and Chillida. Each of them has their own distinctive chromatic palette ranging from Miró's playful and colorful, to Tàpies' earthy tones, based on golds and greens, to Chillida's natural tone and strong black and white contrasts. The residences also feature high-quality sustainable bamboo wood floors and smart home automation systems. In addition, all have floor-to-ceiling glass enclosures and large terraces that offer views of the Mediterranean, the Catalan capital, and the surrounding mountains.

With a starting price of 850,000 euros, Antares' exclusive luxury residences are accompanied by a program of services that include a gym, a 1,000 square meter wellness area, cocoon-shaped capsules for yoga practice ---symbolizing the metamorphosis into a butterfly once the practice is done---, a cinema room, and an impressive Sky Terrace and infinity pool on the rooftop. All of this is accompanied by a garden area with a paddle tennis court and a pavilion equipped with a virtual golf simulator.

With a starting price of 850,000 euros, Antares' exclusive luxury residences are accompanied by a program of services that include a gym and a 1,000 square meter wellness area

Among the diversity of services and common areas that the building has, highlights the soon-to-open restaurant Grand Café Rouge, captained by French chef Romain Fornell, based in Barcelona.At the helm of a varied number of restaurants in the city such as Caelis, Bar Leopoldo, Epicerie or La Plassohla, among others, the new gastronomic proposal will specialize in local products. The interior design, by Odile Decq herself, is in total consonance with the spirit of the building and with the desire to transform everyday moments into lessons of artistic reverence.

With the proposals of Antares tower and Mandarin Oriental Residences, still under construction, Barcelona opens a gap to a new concept of super luxury homes that offers all the services of a five-star hotel in the home itself. All this, as an integral part of a vital experience that, far from great ostentations, reaches excellence at all levels.