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Discover Issue 6 of the NTS Magazine — an exploration of longevity and legacy. From shapeshifting furniture to unkitchen-y kitchens, plus our very unofficial guide to timeless design https://www.nts-store.com/

Inside an early 20th-century industrial building in Milan’s Lambrate district, architect Piermattia Cribiori and the team at Atelierzero transformed a former office into a compact apartment and showroom for a young marble artisan. Inspired by the openness of early-2000s lofts, the renovation removed all internal walls to create a bright, flexible living space guided by the apartment’s large windows. At the centre of the home sits a multifunctional marble-clad volume wrapped in pleated red travertine. Concealing storage, appliances and a walk-in wardrobe while supporting a mezzanine bedroom above. A linear kitchen hides discreetly behind full-height red curtains, maintaining a clean, minimal atmosphere when the kitchen is not in use. Marble appears throughout the home in custom furniture pieces including the dining table and coffee table made by the client.

00:00-00:41 Introduction
00:41-01:32 Location
01:32-03:26 Floor Plan
03:26-03:50 Entrance
03:50-04:47 Living Area
04:47-05:14 Dining Area
05:14-05:55 Kitchen
05:55-06:30 Centrepiece
06:30-07:32 Bathroom
07:32-08:14 Loft
08:14-08:56 Conclusion

See our 5 favourite design ideas from this apartment https://www.nevertoosmall.com/post/5-bold-design-ideas-inside-a-small-milan-loft-style-apartment

#smallapartment #architecture #interiordesign

Ep 245
Project Name: Abode 67
Architect: Atelierzero
https://www.atelierzero.it/
https://www.instagram.com/atelierzero/

Produced by New Mac Video Agency
Creator: Colin Chee
Producer: Lindsay Barnard
Director: Nam Tran
Cinematographer: Sebastian Hilgetag
Editor: Jess Ruasol
Music: Artlist.io
Lonely Like This Moon by Kicktracks
Early Morning by Phury
Bloom by Imaginary Towers

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Transcript
00:03The main inspiration for this particular apartment came from the stereotypical 2000s-era loft.
00:14We like to use different materials and colors to define functional areas
00:21and create custom furniture pieces to give the space personality.
00:27I am Pierre Mattia, an architect and one of the founders of Atelier Zero, an architecture and interior design studio
00:34based in Milan.
00:41The apartment is located in the Lambrate district, an interesting neighborhood undergoing urban transformation and regeneration.
00:55The building is part of an early 20th century structure that originally had an industrial purpose and is recently being
01:03converted to residential use.
01:07The owner of the apartment is one of our trusted suppliers, a young marble worker who runs the family-owned
01:14business Bianco 67 with whom we often collaborate with.
01:18He leaves in the apartment with his girlfriend.
01:23He only asked us to incorporate some marble in the design as a way to represent his company and his
01:30craft.
01:32The apartment was previously an office consisting of two workrooms, a bathroom and a small storage area.
01:40A dropped ceiling personally concealed the true height of the space and everything was very dark and run down.
01:51During the renovation we removed all the existing walls.
01:55The large windows guided our decision to keep the adjacent space as open as possible in order to maximize the
02:03flow of natural light into the living area.
02:05A new kitchen was added to the corner of the apartment and can be hidden away behind the curtains.
02:12We then created a multifunctional volume which would be the centerpiece of the apartment.
02:19Above the volume we added a custom platform for the mezzanine bedroom.
02:28By the entrance there is a narrow niche left over from before the renovation which makes a perfect place for
02:34the closest rack.
02:37The client also wanted to use this apartment as an office and a kind of showroom so we wanted it
02:44to be welcoming and feel like a hotel lobby.
02:50The living area is open and spacious.
02:54It features low metal bookshelves where the client can display magazines, objects and marble samples.
03:02The client loves design and has included some iconic pieces such as the Le Corbusier Chaslang and the Toyo Lamp.
03:11There was another niche left over from before the renovation which we used as a bookshelf and to display a
03:18vase in travertine marble that we designed for the client.
03:24Completing the space is a marble coffee table made by the client and it's based on a design by the
03:29architecture studio kickoffice.
03:36The white wall opposite the sofa is ideal for a portable projector which the client uses instead of a TV.
03:48The dining table is designed by Tino Sobel from Agglomerati and crafted using marble from the client.
03:56The round shape helps for better movement around the space.
04:03We designed the pendant light above the dining table.
04:07It's a steel disc polished on both sides which creates a playful reflection.
04:14The linear kitchen is very simple and custom made.
04:17It can be completely concealed thanks to a full high curtain.
04:22It's especially handy when client visit but do not even realize that there is a kitchen behind the curtains.
04:30To keep a clean minimal look we integrated the dishwasher and exhaust fan.
04:39The refrigerator is integrated into the marble clad volume behind the black wooden door.
04:45The red hue of the curtains and the tone of the marble complement each other and bring warmth to the
04:52space.
04:56The centerpiece of the space is the volume in marble and wood cladded in pleated red travertine slabs.
05:03Behind one of the doors is a storage closet.
05:07This is where the client can keep most of his household items.
05:14Behind the door in the marble volume is the walk-in closet.
05:18It features an open shelving system from IKEA.
05:22It's the main storage of the apartment so we wanted it to be easy to access but also hidden away.
05:31From the walk-in closet there is a door that leads to the bathroom.
05:35The bathroom is perhaps the space that deviates most from the overall minimal industrial aesthetic.
05:44The choice of red originated from the red room in Twin Peaks.
05:49The idea was to create an unexpected and immersive moment that subvert the expectations.
05:59The bathroom is composed of a niche housing the red sink and another niche containing the shower.
06:07The toilet and bidet are in a small dedicated corner.
06:15A red curtain, same as the one in the kitchen, conceives the laundry room.
06:21It's an awkward corner that sits under the communal staircase in the building,
06:26so we use it to hide away the boiler and the washing machine.
06:33The sleeping area is up in the mezzanine above the bathroom.
06:37To get up the mezzanine we design a metal wall-mounted ladder evoking an industrial aesthetic.
06:47The bed is set into a cut-out to maximize the height.
06:53Basically, the mezzanine space is fully dedicated to the double mattress.
07:01This also helps to conceal the bed when looking from below.
07:05Most people don't even realize there is a bed up there and that was exactly the plan from the beginning.
07:15Even in small spaces we believe there should always be room for beauty, surprise and comfort.
07:22What I like most about the apartment is the open space.
07:26You are like in this sort of big room.
07:30The feeling that you feel with the red curtain that warm everything.
07:36The light that is not direct but is always very bright.
07:41I think that this is the thing I love the most.
07:51I think that this is the thing I love the most.
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