BEFORE IT ALL BEGAN

THE SPACE

To walk into 1202 is pretty much like delving into a time-capsule that sped-forward a few decades in a matter of just months. The 2,000+ square feet apartment was any designer’s nightmare- but the renovation’s vague limitations provided an elasticity that could also be an artist’s dream. There were the pros and cons as usual. Then there was the client’s wants and needs. Then a vision…

A consensus was performed to determine what elements of apt. 1202 would be kept, and which would be swept. The resulting decision: a unanimous agreement that most of the space- (some 99.99%) had to be stripped to the core and rebuilt from its foundation up. “What about the marble flooring in the living and dining area?” someone asked. “That’s already gone” I replied. And so it began…

THE LOCATION

Situated in Barranquilla, Colombia’s prime real estate location; apt. 1202 and its neighboring condos, share the perks of an uptown location, with genius distribution and undeniably elite fabrication. As is the case for most elite residences in developed areas of Latin America, architecture revisits its heyday gifting durability beyond belief through material choices. Hard-wood doors, brick and concrete walls, and marble floors are standards followed quite often.

Offering access to a private pool, children’s playground, gym, ballroom, both covered and uncovered parking as well as 24 hour doormen and private security, Testa Rossa is the spot to be if you’re planning on giving yourself a shot to crack Barranquilla’s well-established social circles. Separate service elevators ensure you never cross paths with anybody aside from your neighbors, and friends; and the tranquility offered by owning half of an entire high-rise floor can’t be beat- that is unless you own an entire floor.

WHAT USED TO BE

Everything looks better in black & white- a wise man once said; and everyone seems to agree. Though not trying to salvage the demise of such an apartment; you can observe some images by simply scrolling down of what apt. 1202 used to look like roughly a year ago. It’s white walls cracked and tainted by years of neglect; its flooring set in the most hideous of marble tones- also disconnected from the rest of the apartment’s area (bathrooms, rooms, and kitchen) by juxtaposing it against cheap tiles with streak marks.

It’s ceilings white as should be, were contaminated with dirty spots, an equally terrible choice of hanging light fixtures and ceiling fans, and a complete lack of lighting spots. To put it into perspective, when first walking to apt. 1202; the ceiling lights were counted: adding up to a meager 20. Apt. 1202 now has over 200 light spots throughout- yeah, we simply multiplied it by 10 and kept adding more- a testament to the extreme changes that took place as part of the renovation.