The biggest challenge Bardo Arquitectura faced during the renovation was reconstructing the roof. It had to function as a lightweight truss, so as not to overload the rest of the building's structure, and also be strong enough to withstand the loads generated by the new space. The solution was a lightweight tubular structure, anchored along the entire surface, to avoid load concentrations and increase rigidity.
This solution for the roof gave the impression that the structure was floating. This idea inspired the name and other aspects of the renovation, such as the choice of materials and colors. On the ground floor, warm, heavier tones (dark blues, wood, and terracotta) were used to visually anchor the space, while upstairs, colors such as sky blue and a luminous cream were used to further accentuate the sense of lightness. Cool, reflective materials were placed between the two floors to bring in more light and emphasize the feeling of weightlessness.
Casa Cometa by Bardo Arquitectura. Photograph by Germán Sáiz.
Project description by Bardo Arquitectura
This renovation project in Madrid was quite an unusual case. A poorly planned construction had left the roof on the verge of collapse. We proposed adding a second floor that would solve the structural issues while also creating a new livable space.
The biggest challenge was designing a roof that could function as a large inhabitable truss. It had to be lightweight—so as not to overload the structure—but also strong. Together with our structural engineer, Manuel Ocaña, we arrived at a highly precise solution: a lightweight tubular structure with anchor points distributed across the entire surface. By "atomizing" the supports, we avoided stress concentrations and gained rigidity, as if stitching the roof together.
The result was a structure that is both solid and light, while also adding a new space to rest or unwind—without compromising the home’s stability.
The structure evoked a sense of weightlessness for me, like a kite floating in the air. That image inspired everything: the name, the materials, the colors… That’s how Casa Cometa was born. The idea of weightlessness guided all material choices.
Upstairs, we used sky blues and luminous creams to enhance the feeling of lightness. Downstairs, deeper, heavier tones—dark blues, wood, terracotta—visually anchored the space. In between, we introduced cool, reflective materials like mirrors, glass bricks, and steel to amplify the light and accentuate the sensation of a house that floats.
