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With the price of city property reaching astronomic proportions in the 21^st century, and first time buyers struggling to even reach the property ladder, let alone put a foot on it.

The last few years have witnessed a growing trend towards the concept of micro-living. These spaces usually under 40m2, range in their complexities. Examples such as Gary Chang’s Apartment 24 and Simon Woodroffe’s Yo! Home, offer complex solutions to an age-old problem. The creation of space within limited boundaries.

However, does the solution need to be so complicated? With housing shortages now effecting American cities, the originators of ‘big is beautiful’ are now starting to think that good things really do come in small packages.

AdaptNYC, a pilot program launched in New York City to look at proposals for micro-units are searching for the new American Dream. The winners of the competition propose a mixture of pre-fabricated construction and snap-on architecture to deal with the chronic housing shortage in Manhattan.

Many of the suggested schemes follow the same concept of Kisho Kurokawa’s, 1972 Capsule Tower, a pioneer of the metabolist movement, using scalable and stackable modular architecture. Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67, being another famous example of a trend, now witnessing resurgence. With shipping containers the new theme currently replacing the asbestos boxes in many projects seen world-wide.

Walking up Passeig de Gracia it’s clear that Gaudí certainly left his footprint on this famous design city.

With the landmark buildings of Casa Batlló and La Pedrera focusing attention, some may fail to notice that the streets here are literally paved with (design) gold.

Since 1596 when the Talavera potter Lorenzo de Madrid first produced ceramic tiles for the Government Palace. Catalan tile design & production grew to reach a peak in the Modernista era in the late 19th century.

In recent years Barcelona has fallen back in love with the famous ‘baldosa’. In 1996 Escofet, a historical Barcelona company specialising in urban design, re-introduced ‘Panot Gaudí’ – the original tile designed for the interior of La Pedrera. Using their original molds Escofet manufactured the tiles to pave Passeig de Gracia and the surrounding areas.

Anyone who has walked this famous boulevard will have felt the sense of prestige and historical grandeur, following the footsteps of Gaudí on these dark green hexagonal aquatic mosaics.

With property prices down approximately 30% in Barcelona and the coastal areas, opportunistic buyers are now starting to turn the pain into a gain.

It’s been common news that since the heady days of the Spanish boom, peaking in late 2006. The property market has fallen on difficult times, hit by the perfect storm created by the global financial crisis. Spain has suffered accordingly. But some say crisis and opportunity walk hand in hand.

City living is still thriving and Barcelona is buzzing. Catalonia unlike the rest of Spain has fortunately been spared the worst.

Whether you’re in search of a gothic ‘atico’ in the old town or a luxury penthouse on Passage de Gracia. Barcelona now has the availability with the bargain prices to match.

And with it’s enviable Mediterranean location, beaches, architecture and nightlife. There’s some factors even a ‘crisis’ can’t effect. Barcelona will never be down for long.

So if you are searching for that perfect weekend escape or long term life change. One tip, the advertised property prices are nearly always over-inflated. So negotiate well!

Studio P10 is a creative residential design studio based in Barcelona, specialising in property consultancy and interior renovations.With property prices down approximately 30% in Barcelona and the coastal areas, opportunistic buyers are now starting to turn the pain into a gain.

It’s been common news that since the heady days of the Spanish boom, peaking in late 2006. The property market has fallen on difficult times, hit by the perfect storm created by the global financial crisis. Spain has suffered accordingly. But some say crisis and opportunity walk hand in hand.

City living is still thriving and Barcelona is buzzing. Catalonia unlike the rest of Spain has fortunately been spared the worst.

Whether you’re in search of a gothic ‘atico’ in the old town or a luxury penthouse on Passage de Gracia. Barcelona now has the availability with the bargain prices to match.

And with it’s enviable Mediterranean location, beaches, architecture and nightlife. There’s some factors even a ‘crisis’ can’t effect. Barcelona will never be down for long.

So if you are searching for that perfect weekend escape or long term life change. One tip, the advertised property prices are nearly always over-inflated. So negotiate well!

Studio P10 is a creative residential design studio based in Barcelona, specialising in property consultancy and interior renovations.

At Studio P10 we believe in the 10 Principles. Design with thought, care and attention to the detail. Therefore we felt our first post should highlight the inspirational philosophy of Dietar Rams and his 10 Principles of Design.

‘Less but Better’

Dietar Rams, the German Industrial designer famed for his work with Braun, where the philosophy ‘As little design as possible’ symbolised his clean, simple yet highly functional products.

Rams continues to leave his signature on the design industry. Influencing key figures such as Jonathan Ive, head designer for Apple, who pays homage to Rams in his product ranges and apps.

His designs are based on 10 specific rules or commandments:

At Studio P10 we believe in the 10 Principles. Design with thought, care and attention to the detail. Therefore we felt our first post should highlight the inspirational philosophy of Dietar Rams and his 10 Principles of Design.