Mª José Gómez, co-founder of LUZIO: “We are committed to offering a second life to something that already exists, but by adding greater value”

Quality, contemporaneity, and exuberance are some of the concepts that define the soul of LUZIO, the first luxury concept store & studio in Barcelona, located at 16 Ferran Agulló street. A space where its studio coexists and where interior design projects for private residences, hotels, and other businesses are conceived, as well as art pieces, furniture, decorative objects, or fashion accessories. And it is that in LUZIO a great variety of textures, volumes, and colors coexist in harmony, creating an eclectic and very personal style designed to break the established schemes and provide unique and different fusions.

To their latest projects, they have just added the role of a showroom for the model apartment of the NN Passeig de Gràcia, 125-127 promotion, one of the last buildings refurbished by the Núñez i Navarro Group. Today we discover with María José Gómez, co-founder of LUZIO, how the transformation process of this unique space has been until it became a one-of-a-kind and unrepeatable composition.

How was LUZIO born?

LUZIO was founded in 2006 alongside Maximiliano Zigart. We had a family fashion business where we manufactured home products. From there, we wanted to create a new project, in a more dynamic and fast-paced environment: a concept store. From a physical store, we grew towards undertaking projects that allowed us to mix different items with a harmonious outcome.

Then came Contract Luzio, where we work with hotels and restaurants, and in three years we created Luzio Studio, our own studio that has a team of professionals who develop luxury interior design projects, whether for personal or commercial spaces. Projects in privileged locations that seek to stand out and emphasize the character of their owners. Hotel projects are the ones I have enjoyed the most so far because they allow us to develop the entire concept. In a personal project, you need to know what the family wants and how they live to understand what you need. We have worked, for example, on the Midmost hotels in Barcelona; Pullitzer in Paris or Tahiti in Formentera.

And what is your project today?

LUZIO is a universe of the senses: sight, touch, taste… A physical experience. Although now we have also started with online sales.

We are on a constant quest for beauty, and to this end, the LUZIO team travels to cultures around the world, including Asia, Latin America, Europe, Africa, among others, to find exclusive pieces, treasures that surprise our clients with an eclectic mix: reclaimed furniture or materials given a second life, achieving a fresh and contemporary look, new design objects, and our own furniture.

On Passeig de Gràcia, 125, you interpreted a house for the first time as a showroom for potential tenants. What motivated you to accept this challenge?

Above all, the fact that it is an innovative initiative that brings us benefits. We learn from powerful companies, with a different vision that other projects do not allow. Moreover, we are living through a special moment, with a complicated situation and one must be original and step out of the comfort zone. Passeig de Gràcia 125 offered us new possibilities. People do not always have the imagination to see how something will look once completed, in this case, a decorated apartment, and in this way, we can show how spaces can be envisioned.

This building has been precisely refurbished by Núñez i Navarro, preserving the original beauty of the early 20th century constructions. What are the elements and styles you have chosen to interpret a building of these characteristics?

Projects are always discussed as a team. We have our own team of interior designers, but Xavi Martinell is leading this particular project. He is an interior architect with a special sensitivity for 20th-century architecture. The decision in this case was clear, a building with such characteristics, so full of history, required unique products and objects that would bring strength to the atmosphere. We have tried not to overshadow the space, which presents a more open and contemporary distribution, and we have opted for pieces that give it energy. Like the shelf made of reclaimed iron or the painting on antique woven paper. Something that catches the eye. In addition, we liked the idea of including art and photography because it is very decorative and gives the space life.

Are these furniture and objects selected for a specific type of audience? Who do you imagine living there?

Middle-aged, rather young people, who come from abroad, have traveled, know the world. And who are looking for a home that allows them to feel that they are enjoying and living the essence of what Barcelona is. A place where they can feel comfortable, at home.

With your contribution, Paseo de Gracia 125 becomes a classic building on the outside and inside…

An eclectic apartment. A combination of design and tradition, very welcoming.

This project restores two buildings at Passeig de Gràcia, 125, and through rehabilitation adds value and new uses to them. You have already worked on other rehabilitation projects, what does the client ask for that is different?

Do not lose the essence. When rehabilitating, it is important that what is characteristic of the building is not lost. Rehabilitation is complicated, it requires respect for what has been without forgetting the essence.

Asimismo, este proyecto se alinea con algunas de las tendencias que LUZIO promueve y expande como el upcycle y recycle, ¿qué hay de cada una en el showroom de Passeig de Gràcia?

From the beginning, we were very clear that our commitment would be to choose reclaimed and reinterpreted pieces that breathed the same essence as the building: to offer a second life to something that already existed by adding greater value. We have chosen very natural materials, such as wood or iron; textures without aggressive treatments, like leather or linen, and we have added the range of natural colors typical of the elements. We have also provided a touch of sophistication with the use of gold, antique gold. The idea was to recreate an eclectic place that allowed for the precise combination of design and tradition. The result is a space where one can feel comfortable and that conveys to its inhabitants the essence of Barcelona.

The elements we choose to endow our home with soul and personality must also allow us to feel comfortable, how is that balance between aesthetics and comfort achieved?

Choosing the right product, making a very good selection. For example: the living room should be comfortable. In this sense, we didn't want to fill it up, we wanted the space to be appreciated by incorporating only the furniture that is needed.

In your works, you usually combine elements from different cultures to create unique compositions. On this occasion, do we find elements from various origins?

The sofa is Italian, the rugs are Asian, the linens are Spanish, etc. All our spaces always represent the world. This time we have created a warm, comfortable, contemporary space that is the perfect complement to a unique apartment that respects what Barcelona is: a cosmopolitan city, where different origins come together in one place.

In conclusion, we would like to know, in general, in this year 2020, what are the trends and concerns of people regarding their home.

People have changed their way of living. They want more comfortable homes. In recent months, they have realized that they had an uncomfortable sofa, that they had too many things or that they were missing others. Moreover, with remote work, many homes have needed to redistribute their common spaces to be able to work or for children to play, and this has led to moving, removing, or buying furniture. People have gotten used to being at home and want to be more comfortable.

There is also a growing demand for natural products that reflects an increased awareness of the environment and the fact that the world cannot absorb more products, there is a greater sensitivity towards recycled products. I believe this is here to stay.

What is the most important thing in your home?

Very personal elements. Objects that come from family or bring back memories. In my house, we give them great importance. And the areas you share with the rest of the family: the kitchen and living room. The sofa, the table where you eat… that's what makes it more of a home. I like my house to be a cozy place and I'm in favor of natural flowers and textiles, which add warmth, round out the home decor, and allow for changes.

What does Barcelona mean to you?

It's my city. Barcelona as a city, allows you to do more. It's very easy to live, to get around. You have all the dining options, the climate... it's cosmopolitan and there are many people from abroad living here. Very close by you have both the sea and the mountains. And just a little over an hour away, snow.

Can you recommend some of your secret spots for people who will soon visit Barcelona?

Strolling down Passeig de Gràcia, building by building, one must marvel. Las Ramblas. La Barceloneta and its dining, like the paella at Cheriff. And its impressive historical value, which we must reclaim. For instance, Barcelona is home to the oldest synagogue in Europe. It is a city that must fight to be open to everyone once again. Where everyone feels welcome. A clean city, a cultural city, safe and where language is a treasure.