00:01The clients ask us to improve this small space, trying to maximise the elements of everyday life.
00:09We wanted to create a space that is characterised by fun elements like the floor.
00:16The challenge is to not make everything smaller when designing a small apartment,
00:23but try to make all the elements work in a small space.
00:28It means to achieve the co-existence and overlapping of things.
00:35I'm Bianca Maggi, I'm an architect and I'm a collaborator for Studio Atoma.
00:41This was an apartment that had a subdivision and this is the spacecraft.
00:46This apartment is 21 square metres.
00:50It's the smallest that we have ever designed.
01:01The building is located near the centre of Milan, next to Piazza Cinque Giornate.
01:07This area is super cool because it's a super nice residential area.
01:11There are lots of shops and around the corner there is the European Institute of Design.
01:18It's really different how people living in Milan.
01:22Houses are different, the way of life is different.
01:27You usually use your house just to sleep actually because Milan is working now.
01:35The clients came to us and asked to design a space for their daughters to live in.
01:41The clients really trust us and asked to do whatever we want.
01:47The first thing I felt was that it was super dark because you enter in a small space that is
01:53also full of things.
01:55It was a kitchen with storage, a table, the door of the bathroom.
01:59So it was a mess and super dark actually.
02:01The first thing that you could see when you entered the apartment was the bathroom door.
02:07It was not a functional apartment.
02:09We removed the walls to create different areas for the apartment but well separated.
02:15We created a real entrance illuminated by a natural light.
02:21We moved the bathroom to the darkest spot of the apartment.
02:24And then we created a real sleeping area that was separated from the living area.
02:33The entrance in this case is well defined by a small step that has been created for technical reasons
02:41but also to define better the space.
02:44On one side there is a bespoke cabinet for shoes and also it hides the washing machine.
02:52And on the other side there is a full height mirror that also expands the space.
02:58That hides a door for cabinet.
03:00In the lower part it hides the bathroom door.
03:04The kitchen is actually pretty generous.
03:08It's made of a curved walnut wood finish.
03:11In the lower part is the dishwasher and a small fridge.
03:16We chose an induction stove for the kitchen.
03:21You can close the backsplash and it hides the disorder of the kitchen.
03:29The backsplash and the top of the kitchen are in stainless steel so it's super easy to clean.
03:38We tried a hydraulic system to make the opening easier.
03:43The top is foldable so that you can close all the cover of the kitchen.
03:48The two shelves helped to improve storage space.
03:51And we integrated LED lights in the shelf.
03:56We created handles that was like a continuous line of steel.
04:04When you close the covers of the kitchen you can use this space also to work.
04:08So overlapping of function is for sure something that we wanted to achieve.
04:16The living room is the place to rest in the house.
04:22There are shutters that black out lights.
04:25Foldable curtains that help to manage the lights inside.
04:32The bench next to the window helps to put things on.
04:38The two central parts are modular elements that you can move actually to make the space more flexible.
04:46To sit on the dining table, to use it as a coffee table or as a bench to rest your
04:52feet while you're on the sofa.
04:55And also extra seats for the friends.
05:00We created these holes on the benches for cable management.
05:07There is a small sofa that also becomes a second bed if needed.
05:13On the central part of the wall we put a foldable table.
05:18When it's on the wall it works like a white canvas for the living room.
05:22When it's unfolded you can see walnut wood finish.
05:28On the opposite side of the living room we built shelf storage unit so that the client can display objects
05:36on top.
05:37In the lower part there are more storage rooms.
05:41As handles we use these holes that help save more space.
05:46One of the three drawers is a step that helps you to go on the bed.
05:54The headboard has also more storage space in it and it's deep enough to put objects on it.
06:01There is also another shelf to put things on.
06:04In the sleeping space we painted all the walls in dark blue so that it gets more intimate and cosy.
06:16The bed is raised up from the floor so that we can use the space under the bed.
06:22There is a spacious walking wardrobe.
06:25We designed it so you can stand in it.
06:31We use the space above the bathroom to have storage space to put luggage, suitcases and also technical elements.
06:41The warm light is adjustable so that you can fold it for ambience light or open for reading.
06:55The bathroom is covered in ruby selige tiles from Morocco.
07:01We chose floating elements so it doesn't look so heavy and also to see the floor all over the bathroom.
07:10We decided to tile the wall from the ground to the top
07:15because we wanted to create a different world in which you can relax.
07:22We designed curved furniture because it is such a small space.
07:27We use a white tapware to create contrast with the colour of the tiles.
07:33The mirror above the sink becomes transparent in the upper part to make natural light to enter the bathroom.
07:41We created a little windows above the shelves of the kitchen.
07:45What is nice is that at night it looks like a lantern.
07:53The floor maybe is the thing that we are more proud of.
07:56It's not an ordinary floor.
07:59These tiles come from Mosaic Factory, a Spanish brand that makes all the tiles by hand.
08:07Our inspiration came from Japanese furniture for sure.
08:11They are a big inspiration because they usually live in small spaces.
08:16As a designer I believe it's really important to understand the needs of people.
08:21I hope people can feel the house as a safe place, a cozy place in which they can relax and
08:28feel safe from what's happening outside.
08:32That's one of the most possible meals.
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