Sometimes a project is less about building something new and more about revealing what was already there. This penthouse is located in a historic building in the heart of San Sebastián, overlooking the Atlantic coast. 

From the outset, the goal was to work with the classical structure of the building rather than overwrite it — keeping its axes, proportions and symmetry as the foundation for a contemporary way of living. 

San Sebastián Penthouse, spain

PROJECT: PERGAMO STUDIO
PHOTO: DAVID ZARZOSO 
LOCATION: SAN SEBASTIÁN, SPAIN 

All furniture was custom-made from plywood finished in oak veneer. Built-in wardrobes, integrated doors and wall panelling were designed as one continuous architectural system, allowing storage and function to remain visually calm. The television was concealed within custom cabinetry to preserve the integrity of the space. 

Material decisions required precision. Veneer selection was tested extensively against the beige plaster walls and timber floors, while construction logistics meant transporting nearly three tonnes of bespoke furniture to a sixth-floor apartment without lift access. 

These constraints shaped the project as much as the design itself. The result is a restrained interior that doesn’t compete with the historic shell, but works in dialogue with it — quiet, deliberate, and built to last.