APARTAMENTO

It sells out in days, is read in 45 countries and has been called the world's hippest interiors magazine. Media news might be dominated by the decline of print, but Apartamento is quietly bucking the trend. Back in April, its founders, Nacho Alegre and Omar Sosa, celebrated as they sold all 25,000 copies of its ninth issue. The biannual, English-language publication was started in Barcelona from a tiny room in Alegre's house, yet now hits newsstands in China, Lebanon and Kenya, as well as recording big sales in Berlin, London and New York. One London shop reported selling 140 copies, compared to the 15 or so copies the rest of the magazines it stocks usually sell.

Unlike many traditional interiors magazines, which feature cold, minimalist rooms full of unaffordable designer gadgets, the living spaces in Apartamento are often small, cluttered and have a lived-in feel. The people covered are largely creative types – photographers, artists, musicians – who are invited to talk about their living spaces.

"The idea is about how people live in their homes and being able to tell their amazing stories." the whole thing has a strong human aspect, linking homes to the people who live in them rather than the items contained within. As designer Andy Beach says in issue seven: "A real living space is made from living, not decorating. A bored materialist can't understand that a house has to become a home."

Pat Morita was here

Salgo fea pero feliza

El otro día Apartamento dio una pequeña fiesta en Galería Alegría, un espacio inusual en Barcelona que descubrí gracias a mi innata capacidad de perderme: hace dos años, intentando encontrar la casa de alguien (no recuerdo quien, pero era amigo).

Al llegar pensamos que los del bar tenían la salida de la cocina cerca porque olía a comida rica pero no, eran las dos paelleras enormes en las que unos chicos estaban sofriendo ajos y demás enseres para (obvio) hacer unas deliciosas paellas: de marisco y de montaña.

Al fondo había ponche y una mesa con vinos, ese ponche con el que hay que ir con cuidado porque entra muy bien y luego acabas bailando jotas en el salón de tu jefe... Me lo pase genial, no vi a Nacho Alegre por ningún lado pero si a la bella Camprubí, a Idoia, a Marcos, conocí un chico muy majo que se llama Todd y hablé con Arturo de proyectos, comida, gente...

♥