Roomservice Design: Dutch avant-garde design lands in Barcelona

R

ight in the centre of Barcelona, Roomservice Design, a small contemporary interior design gallery with a long and narrow interior, has become a port of call for those in the know. We are in the Raval neighbourhood, an extremely trendy area with art galleries and fashionable restaurants, just before the world famous La Rambla and a stone’s throw away from the MACBA, the Barcelona museum of contemporary art. 

Roomservice and its long and narrow interior with concrete floors and extra-high industrial ceilings.

Forever committed to experimental design, Roomservice Design is an ever-changing innovative gallery. Roomservice was opened in 2007 by Rosa and Emilio Alvarez, two modern art gallerists, in partnership with their Dutch friend Kees Kousemaker. What’s more, Angels Barcelona, their mesmerizing visual art gallery, is just around the corner.

The small entrance at Roomservice, a single store front on Carrer dels Angels. Right-hand side: an installation by Piet Hein Eek and Estudio Pilar Libano.

Passionate about contemporary design and Dutch design especially, these three art experts have introduced to the Spanish public products by some of the most influential new contemporary Dutch designers, like Piet Hein Eek, Maarten Baas, Richard Hutten and Gijs Bakker. Since the beginning, this gallery has always been a multicultural space accessible to all. In fact, there has been a steady string of talented International designers, who have shown their limited edition pieces: South American designers like Lopez and Rivera, the British Baines&Fricker and the Japanese Yukiko Kitahara with her magnificent and delicate ceramics (last image). 

On display, chairs and benches by Piet Hein Eek. And in the background, Blue Dutchtub by Weltevree.

Tables by Estudio Pilar Libano, armchair and cabinet by Piet Hein Eek. Photo: Sergio Belinchón.

A temporary exhibition display, with a view over the main entrance, which fronts the street.

Right-hand side: ceramic lamp by Weltevree, golden bars by Arik Levi, carafe by Piet Hein Eek and LXL wallpaper. Left-hand side: espadrilles by Zuzunaga and silk lamp by Piet Hein Eek.

Deep down, Roomservice Design is very Barcelona; this is a striking example of all the good things that have happened in this city in the last couple of years. In fact, in recent decades, Barcelona has become the European cultural hub par excellence and even through the financial crisis, its creativity doesn’t show signs of weakness. And you shouldn’t be shocked by the graffiti on the shutters, in fact, they are all over the street. However, aware that they didn’t stand a chance against this type of spray art, which is more often ugly than not; those on Roomservice are by an artist friend.

Design project

Roomservice Design Gallery
Carrer dels Ángels 16, Barcellona, Spain
Tel. +39 02 7000 6147

Opening hours
Mon-Fri 10:30 - 14.00 e 16.00-19.00
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays

E-mail: info@roomservicebcn.com

 

www.roomsd.com

 

Photos: Courtesy Room Service Design