00:01The space is on the ground floor of a three-story corner building in Lisbon's
00:07Belém district. The building was constructed in the late 18th century and
00:14this small space has seen many different uses over time. It's used as a living,
00:21working and exhibition space for a visual artist.
00:30When I first saw the space I fell in love with the beautiful stone arch and the
00:36high ceilings. I wanted to create a space with a multifunctional interior that
00:43unites a living space with a working area. My name is Lenka Holcnerová. I'm an
00:50architect and founder of the architectural studio Atelier Holcnerová.
00:58The key was to design interior elements that can fluidly transform between these
01:04functions. At the center of the design concept were the ideas of timelessness and
01:11respect for the centuries-old building with all its qualities.
01:25The street around this apartment is residential and has fewer people passing by than many other areas.
01:34Belém is located in western Lisbon, right on the banks of the Tejo River. Belém is home to many
01:42monuments and museums and it's popular with visitors.
01:48The layout blocked natural light from flowing through the space.
01:54The whole space felt darker because of the dark entrance door and lower height of the ceiling.
02:02In the back corner there was a kitchen without any windows, there was a small toilet and sink,
02:09there were no bathroom or showers, so it would be difficult to live here.
02:15The kitchen was moved to the old toilet and nearby Nishe.
02:20We lowered the floor in the rear part of the space to allow space for the addition of a mezzanine
02:27bedroom.
02:28Under the bedroom is the new bathroom.
02:33Lastly, the entrance door was changed to a glass door to allow more light in.
02:39Just in front of the entrance it is possible to place a little table for relaxing, working or just having
02:46a coffee.
02:48The generous glass entrance is fitted with two sets of curtains that allow for different needs to be met.
02:56I added sheer curtains but for the complete privacy, for example in the evening, there is also a layer of
03:04blackout curtains.
03:07The entrance to the space feels more like a gallery than an apartment.
03:12The living area is in the main open space overlapping with working and dining functions.
03:19I wanted a space where at first glance all of its functions are not obvious and they reveal themselves over
03:27time.
03:28The stone arch, which is structural, was a mandatory anti-seismic element in buildings built after the devastating earthquake in
03:371755.
03:39However, it was slightly covered up by a false ceiling.
03:42By fully revealing it and restoring it, it became centerpiece of the entire space.
03:50The stone has a lot of character, so I kept everything around it in white to give the stone more
03:56emphasis.
03:57The old rotten beams on the ceiling were replaced with new ones, which I left exposed.
04:07Another important element is the large glass table in the center.
04:11The top was an old glass door that I converted to a table by adding steel legs.
04:17The door handle was an oval cutout in the glass, which is now used for passing cables through.
04:23The table has many functions.
04:26It is used as a desk when working and dining table while eating or to display artworks during exhibitions.
04:37The social and private areas are separated by a freestanding fireplace.
04:43The chimney was redirected under the mezzanine, which also helps to heat up the bed.
04:49The floor in the entire apartment is made of micro-cement.
04:54With time, the micro-cement floor is now gaining beautiful patina and imperfections.
05:03The kitchen is placed within two niches.
05:07The whole kitchen is wide to blend into the niches and ensure a sense of openness and lightness.
05:15In the unit with the sink, there is a fridge and a portable cooktop.
05:20There is also a space for small dishwasher to be installed in the future.
05:28The kitchen is made from plexiglass mineral, which creates clean, smooth surfaces, adding to the calm atmosphere.
05:37In these niches, I placed indirect artificial lights to resemble a sun coming into the apartment.
05:45I wanted to detach the kitchen from the floor and make it shallower, so it looks lighter and more subtle.
05:54The bathroom is under the mezzanine, three steps down from the main space.
06:01I designed the bathroom to have two different possible layouts.
06:05When the space is in work mode, the visitors can only see the toilet and the wash basin.
06:12By using a custom-made cover, it's possible to put things on the top of the bathtub when it's not
06:18in use.
06:20With the cover on, it doesn't look like a bathtub anymore and it allows me to use it in a
06:26different mode.
06:29The storage in the bathroom has a connection ready for a washing machine.
06:34There is a laundry mat nearby, so it's very convenient and we haven't had to install one yet.
06:45The wash basin is custom-made and from the same plexiglass mineral as the kitchen.
07:01The sleeping area is on the mezzanine and it's accessible by a narrow staircase.
07:11The floor is made from maritime plywood which we whitewashed.
07:18The sofa is custom-made from two single mattresses and it transforms into a bed in the evening.
07:26It has integrated bedside tables with power sockets for a lamp and to charge your phone.
07:34There is a tall storage niche for clothes behind a curtain.
07:45The glass railing of the mezzanine lets natural light from the back window enter the space completely.
07:56When designing a small space, it's important to have an interior when functions can happily overlap.
08:06I'm a big admirer of old buildings and it's remarkable how relatively small changes can allow for the same building
08:15to be efficiently and comfortably utilized for centuries.
08:19I'll register onto the floor, I'll keep it in mind.
08:32I will register for a while from the back window and do the backpack.
08:38We will register for centuries.
Comments