"Barcelona is a vibrant city where you can find refuge in the nearby nature", by Charlotte de Caluwe
Charlotte de Caluwe is 28-year-old interior architect. She was born in Antwerp, Belgium, and moved to Barcelona three years ago. She specializes in projects that seek beauty and quality in harmony with the past, present, and future. Her studio focuses on residential work but has also undertaken commercial projects, such as La Rinascente in Milan. Each project is uniquely tailored to meet the specific needs of the client, ensuring a personalized approach every time.
Why did you choose Barcelona?
I initially moved here to study at Elisava, but later returned when I had the opportunity to work at Studio Andrew Trotter, known for its focus on international projects. Starting my own company in Barcelona was a logical step. With a high demand for deep and timeless architecture, I want to be an ambassador of Belgian design in Barcelona while staying true to the city's history, character, and context.
What are the city’s strengths?
Barcelona has a lot to offer. Its central location provides strong global connections, allowing the city to attract an international community. I experience Barcelona as a vibrant city where you can easily find refuge in the nearby nature. I also appreciate how Barcelona has evolved, with a plan, with vision, and how it preserves historic buildings with respect. I love walking through l’Eixample, admiring the balconies and the beautiful, character-filled architecture, or visiting the pavilion designed by Mies van der Rohe.
Which aspects of the city need to be improved? How?
Growing up in Belgium, I was fortunate to be surrounded by a rich cultural scene. Antwerp is a fashion city, home to designers like Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Martin Margiela, and Bernadette, who greatly inspire me. In the art world, there is also an abundance of talent, with figures like Jef Verheyen, Alechinsky, Magritte, and Rinus Vandevelde, among others. While Barcelona has emerging artists and others of great historical value, I sometimes miss a more contemporary approach to art.
What do you expect from Barcelona in the coming years?
To this day, Barcelona has maintained a clear strategy of keeping the city on a human scale; the feeling that each neighborhood is like a village, a community within the city. I believe this is something that makes Barcelona unique. I hope the city preserves this essence and even strengthens it further.
Which city do you consider to be your home city? What do you miss most?
Antwerp is my origin, it's the city that still inspires me so much. But I don't think I can feel a city as "my city"; I believe that Europe is my home. Nonetheless, I always feel a strong connection with cultural cities like Paris and Milan. What I miss the most about my hometown is being close to friends and family, but I see them very often and that makes our connection even stronger.
