Suites Avenue apartments Pg. De Gràcia (Toyo Ito)

The Suites Avenue apartments are housed inside a building that was remodelled by Toyo Ito in 2009. The Japanese architect was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2013. The façade was designed as a tribute to Gaudí's Casa Milà, which stands a short distance from the apartments. The building consists of two superimposed façades: an interior one, clad almost in its entirety in glass, and an exterior one, made from strips of undulating steel. The steel façade begins just above the first floor, creating the effect of sunken panelling and marking a clear separation from the ground floor with its retail space. The façade appears to have been cut out at random, emulating the organic nature of Gaudí's building. Its finish was designed to give the impression that it changes colour according to the position of the sun and the atmospheric conditions. There are gaps in the steel strips, and terraces have been slotted between the two façades. They act as in-between spaces and have street views, while affording privacy. The interior layout, which does not follow the curves of the exterior, is set out around a rectangular courtyard.