00:02This building is located in a previously industrial area of Milan, which underwent a
00:07series of projects to revitalize the area, specifically the Darsena Basin.
00:15This is a residential building built in the 1960s in the middle of the post-Second
00:20World War boom in Italy. This apartment is about 30 square meters.
00:34The client wanted a high-quality product which maximizes the comfort and
00:39flexibility in a small 30 square meter apartment. The original apartment was
00:44characterized by a small bathroom which separated a small kitchen from the main
00:48living space, resulted in a leftover irregular form which became incredibly
00:52difficult to furnish and inhabit. Our decision was to take the bathroom and
00:58kitchen and move them to the edge of the apartment, allowing for an open floor plan
01:03and a more flexible space. The main element we introduced to the apartment is a
01:10movable wall. By inserting this movable wall into the apartment, it allows the user to
01:18adapt the space depending on the time of day and the functions associated with
01:22those specific times.
01:34By shifting the movable wall to the edge of the apartment,
01:37it allows for a more open space where the resident can entertain guests or do at-home
01:42activities such as yoga.
01:48By shifting the movable wall to the center of the apartment, it allows for double-sided access.
01:54From the one side, a small desk for studying or working from home.
01:59We've also included some small display spaces for books and designer objects.
02:08On the other side, a breakfast and lunch bar which can also double as a study space or work from
02:14home
02:14space if there's more than one person staying in the apartment.
02:22When the movable wall is positioned in the center of the apartment, it allows for accessible storage.
02:28In this position, it creates a walk-in wardrobe which goes hand in hand with the mirror on the opposite
02:35side
02:37while at the same time allowing the apartment to feel much bigger.
02:45Keeping in line with the playfulness of this apartment, the design of the foldable leg takes
02:50on the form of a wave which appears to be a design piece simply hanging on the wall.
02:56Even with the bed down in the evenings, we've designed the furniture in a way that still
03:01allows the resident access to the kitchen and the entrance.
03:05In the movable wall and above the bed, we've included extra storage for items not so regularly used.
03:14In this project, the client wanted a kitchen without compromise.
03:19We've gone for an L-shaped kitchen which houses a washing machine,
03:26dishwasher, full height fridge freezer and an oven.
03:32To allow for a sense of continuity in the apartment, we've gone with a solid wood
03:37splashback and kitchen countertop. This material choice connects the built-in furniture in the living room
03:44to that of the kitchen. To avoid having handles which protrude into the space,
03:50we have cut small finger grips into the cabinetry. In sticking with the theme of playfulness in this
03:56apartment, we've also added little pops of colour to these handles.
04:02We've included additional storage in the entranceway for items that may need to be accessed on a more
04:07regular basis such as backpacks, coats or shoes.
04:13For the bathroom, we've decided to go with a sliding door.
04:18In order to maintain fluidity in the apartment, the parquet wood floor extends into the bathroom
04:24and underneath the basin area.
04:28When the bathroom door is open, you get a sense of all three windows, allowing maximum natural light into the
04:34apartment.
04:39Moving into the wet space of the bathroom, we've gone with dark tiles on the floor,
04:43light tiles on the walls with the upper part of the wall painted gray.
04:48In the shower, we've gone with tiles from floor to ceiling,
04:52creating a greater sense of space and ambient lighting to allow for a more intimate space.
04:59With the built-in furniture on the edge of the apartment, we left the living room open and free,
05:05allowing for the placement of freestanding furniture.
05:08When new people move into the apartment, they have the freedom to furnish the open space as they please.
05:17Making use of every last bit of space we could, we've built in a series of small shelves into the
05:23wall.
05:23This provides extra storage for things like books or designer objects.
05:30It is important for architects and designers to consider small spaces as spaces with potential.
05:37We know that in these small spaces, we have the possibility to provide full-scale apartments without compromise.
05:45The use of spaces such as this, to achieve so much, allows for the future sustainability of dense urban contexts
05:52such as Milan.
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