8 Inspiring Small Italian Homes Under 60sqm/645sqft

Never Too Small

Issue 6 of our magazine is here — explore inspiring stories, a stunning illustrated cover, and smart small-footprint homes that redefine great living https://www.nts-store.com/   Italy is often defined by architectural grandeur, palazzos, piazzas and sweeping coastlines, yet some of its most inventive design thinking can be found at a far smaller scale. In this special compilation, we revisit eight of our favourite small Italian homes. From a 21sqm micro apartment in Milan that becomes an exercise in overlapping function and sculptural joinery to an abandoned flat in Naples  revived through bold colour, craftsmanship and contrast. Along the Riviera, a former 1970s studio is reorganised like the interior of a sailing boat, cleverly concealing two bedrooms within its compact footprint, whilst a 15th-century fresco in Mantua re-emerges as the centrepiece of a contemporary layout.   See more on these small Italian apartments! https://www.nevertoosmall.com/post/5-inspiring-small-italian-homes-under-60sqm-645sqft  #smallapartment #architecture #interiordesign   Episodes & Credits  00:00-08:36  So far, the tiniest  https://youtu.be/LG_h4zU76c8?si=ugUh9AAJkN2N_F9j  Architect: https://atomaa.eu/   08:36-14:46 Riviera Cabin  https://youtu.be/bH3j4F7Q8W8?si=-gDSLM69ivPXKZWK  Architect: https://llabb.eu/  14:46-26:02 Paradisiello  https://youtu.be/DFrDpGRzGWo?si=5w3K7CqpjhTRrlDp  Architect: https://www.instagram.com/la.fotosintesi   26:02-32:40 Seaside Attic  https://youtu.be/zGHfgenBCLQ?si=34zBUUVegt1qmeO1  Architect: https://pierluigicolombo.net/   32:40-39:27 Luini  https://youtu.be/RKy9ZCPS6ZU?si=um9LNnpXN_1xqdnc  Designer:  https://www.dmarchitect.it/  39:27-47:23 Flat Eleven  https://youtu.be/hdDz4GVcRQM?si=DtPU_MoKMcuUqN9L Designer: https://www.pierattelliarchitetture.com/   47:23-52:37 Il Cubotto  https://youtu.be/Wy2PQM-HnMQ?si=iuvPbeO8wbzWnPE_  Architect: https://thecaterpilar.it/  47:23-52:37 Monolocale EFFE https://youtu.be/cpcexLn1F4w?si=KWtuFFWlDz_ZJIoH  Designer: https://archiplanstudio.com/  Music: Artlist.io Nobody Got Time for Love - Instrumental Version by Jimit 2AM Walk by Lanilea Harpstrings and Chill Gymnopédie No 1 by Lalinea White Dream by Yehezkel Raz Naples by LOLEK At the Viewpoint by Skygaze Days - Instrumental Version by HUAN On  On - Instrumental Version by Jimit Jazzlude V Process by Walz Carry on by Risian Houseless Hill by Imaginary Towers How Could the World Contain You by The Soundkeeper When Skies Meet Shores by We Dream of Eden Please Send Rain by We Dream of Eden  Share your projects with us- https://www.nevertoosmall.com/submissions Subscribe to our newsletter- https://www.nevertoosmall.com/subscribe  Check out our store- https://www.nts-store.com Website- https://www.nevertoosmall.com Instagram-  https://www.instagram.com/nvtsmall Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/nvtsmall

Transcript

00:01The clients ask us to improve this small space,

00:05trying to maximise the elements of everyday life.

00:09We wanted to create a space that is characterised

00:13by fun elements like the floor.

00:16The challenge is to not make everything smaller

00:20when 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.

00:36I'm Bianca Maggi, I'm an architect

00:38and I'm a collaborator for Studio Atoma.

00:41This was an apartment that had a subdivision

00:44and 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,

01:04next 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

01:14there 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

01:30because Milan is working now.

01:35The clients came to us and asked to design a space

01:38for their daughters to live in.

01:41The client really trusted us and asked to do whatever we want.

01:47The first thing I felt was that it was super dark

01:51because you enter in a small space that is also 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

02:05was the bathroom door.

02:07It was not a functional apartment.

02:09We removed the walls to create different areas for the apartment

02:14but well separated.

02:15We created a real entrance illuminated by natural light.

02:21We moved the bathroom to the darkest spot of the apartment

02:24and then we created a real sleeping area

02:28that was separated from the living area.

02:33The entrance in this case is well defined by a small step

02:38that has been created for technical reasons

02:40but also to define better the space.

02:44On one side there is a bespoke cabinet for shoes

02:48and also it hides the washing machine.

02:52And on the other side there is a full height mirror

02:56that also expands the space

02:58that hides a door for cabinet.

03:00In the lower part it hides the bathroom door.

03:05The 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

03:32so 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.

03:47The two shelves helped to improve storage space.

03:52And 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.

04:21There 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.

04:37The 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 units

05:33so that the client can display objects on 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 cozy.

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 because we wanted to create a different world

07:18in 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 color 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 window 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.

08:37The apartment is located in Deva Marina on the Liguria Riviera.

08:44More or less two hours from Milan.

08:50Not distant from Cinque Terre.

08:54This is a summer house for clients of ours, a couple in their 60s and their two daughters.

09:06The brief was super simple.

09:08We wanted to get two rooms out of the 35 square meters to the apartments.

09:20Viva Marina is a hybrid between old Ligurian architecture and new architecture from the 60s and from the 70s.

09:34This building was built in the 70s and it's always been a residential building.

09:41The apartment was a studio apartment as it was designed in the 70s.

09:50It was nothing more than a big undefined room.

10:02The change of the floor plan was literal.

10:06We opened the door to the bathroom facing the entrance

10:10and we created two sleeping rooms in the corner of the apartment, one on top of each other.

10:19The nautical culture was fundamental for the developing of this project.

10:25We visited the Salone Nautico, an important nautical fair,

10:30and we measured how people live in sailing modes.

10:38At the entrance, on the right hand side, we have a walk-in closet.

10:49And storage room from top to bottom.

10:56We designed a wood line on the multifunctional wall that leads you from the entrance to the living area,

11:03the core of the apartment, and it mimics the waterline of a boat.

11:12The wall is made of ottume, also called marine plywood, and it's laminated in white and blue.

11:19And the continuity between the hull and the sky is interrupted by the wooden waterline.

11:29We designed the living room as an open space in order to maximize the natural light coming from the window,

11:36so the living area is bright and light.

11:41Following the waterline all around the apartment, you reach the kitchen.

11:49We combined the kitchen and the living area as a gathering place for the family.

11:58The kitchen is small but fully equipped with hot plates, oven, refrigerator and everything is needed.

12:12The kitchen has been designed with customized IKEA pieces in order to keep the budget low.

12:21Instead of using cabinets above the kitchen, we designed angled floating shelves in order to maximize the lights coming from

12:31the small window.

12:36The master bedroom is accessible through two large doors and its interior is imagined almost like the inside of a

12:46whale's ribcage, bound by structural wooden ribs.

12:53The master bedroom, like a sailboat cabin, contains the essentials, a double bed and a minimum storage space.

13:10At the end part of the wall, through a small door, you reach the second sleeping area.

13:17Climbing up steep stairs as if climbing onto an attic of a small fisherman's house.

13:27We purposely designed the wall so that you can tell which is a door and which is a window,

13:32to minimize the visual clutter which is important when designing a small space.

13:39We also included some open shelving in order for the client to bring their personal touch by displaying their items.

13:50We followed through the nautical concept in the bathroom as well by using blue tiles,

13:57wooden diagonal shelves and for the floor we used tiles inspired by the decking of a boat.

14:08We also placed a laundry at the bathroom entrance.

14:17A balcony completes the apartments and can be used to dine or just relax while looking at the Ligurian Hills.

14:27We believe that every apartment should be tailored for people who live in it.

14:33We need different spaces to do different things and good design tiny apartments are those that allow the owner to

14:42live in them in a complex and complete way.

14:49We love colour. I mean, our projects are characterized by colour. We love colour.

14:55I think the most important when we design a home is to create an atmosphere,

15:01to create a space where the people feel good.

15:06We think house like story, like music.

15:11From the beginning, we want a home where we could experiment, draw and create design objects.

15:18My name is Julie. I'm a friend, chef from Paris.

15:22And I'm Giuseppe. I'm Italian from Naples.

15:25We are a partner in life and work.

15:29We are partners in La Photosynthesis. It's an architectural studio based in Naples.

15:43I love all the homes, but I think entrance. I love it.

15:48Me too. And the mazzanine too.

15:50It's a nice place. I don't know. You are in the middle of the house.

15:53You can see all the high ceiling.

15:58The bedroom and morning is like the best place in the world, I think.

16:02I don't like morning, but since I live here, it makes me love morning.

16:07It makes me love waking up.

16:09When you are on the bed in the morning, you see really Vesuvius, the sun. It's really nice.

16:16Yeah, if you go to Naples, you see this contrast.

16:20You see that there are a lot of beauty, a lot of the city that is abandoned,

16:27but it's under the big sun.

16:31I think that Naples has been the start of this home.

16:37Naples has inspired us.

16:41So the idea for the project, we put a lot of history because Naples is a historical city

16:46where there is a little bit of modernity.

16:50We keep the old floor and we contrast with a little bit of modernity.

16:57Furniture, the lamp, the kitchen.

17:03We were walking in the street because we were visiting another home close to this one.

17:10And so this house that had been abandoned for years.

17:13And then when we back home, we saw on internet this house.

17:17So we went to visit it and we had a crush.

17:26The floor plan has remained mostly unchanged.

17:28There was a wall here and there was the kitchen.

17:32And here there was a bedroom.

17:35We changed the function of the rooms in order to create a large living room

17:39with an open kitchen and a comfortably sized bedroom.

17:43We wanted to preserve a large entrance, something we always try to include in our projects.

17:50We also had a mezzanine that contains a studio area.

17:54We designed this desk that can be put away to create a guest room.

18:00We have another desk that goes to the terrace.

18:06The entrance is surprisingly spacious for this type of apartment.

18:10The floor features a pattern mix of original styles from the era.

18:15We feel they give a lot of character to the home.

18:18The closet in the entrance is an original one.

18:22We bring it from the windows.

18:24There was two guys here on the balcony that take the top and I push them down.

18:33The chair in the entrance is from Anonima Castelli.

18:37They show this for the key and we designed it, yes.

18:46The kitchen is a very simple, clean, horizontal element where all the functions are integrated.

19:02It's really, really, really compact.

19:05But functional, super functional.

19:11And then this door, the left, you can find all the projects to clean.

19:17There's the bin, the washing machine, we have all the stuff to cook.

19:24The refrigerator was placed under the mezzanine and hidden away.

19:30During the renovation, we removed the wallpaper and uncovered the original colors of the time.

19:36We kept the color because it was nice to mix the past and the modern.

19:43We love this color because it's really linked to the color outside of the garden.

19:51In the living room, the couch is vintage from Hedra.

19:56And we found it in Florence.

20:00It's the Homela Farm, the word women and men, it's called.

20:04Because this is women, there is another word that is men.

20:09We need a coffee table but there are a lot of stuff in this apartment

20:13so we decided to make something clear that it will disappear.

20:17We liked the contrast of the new windows, super modern, with the context.

20:23Yeah, because there was a normal window split in two.

20:26And so we saw this beautiful panorama so we wanted just one window to make like a painting.

20:31When we started at Naples, we were so surprised that there is a lot of craftsmanship.

20:38And so we started to have fun, we started to design a lot of things.

20:44In the living room, we designed this console and we designed this table.

20:51We love nature, so we bring a lot of plants.

20:56You know, this one, it was on the big road.

20:59There is a man that sold the plant.

21:01We take with us the motorbike and we drive through Naples with this big tree.

21:07And I was behind Giuseppe, with my hand, I hold it and I was like...

21:12Behind him, it was so funny.

21:15We found the light in our house.

21:17We wanted something very simple in contrast with the light.

21:21And then the man that did the orange part decided, without telling us, to do these things.

21:30And so we were like, nice, okay, it's okay, it's nice.

21:36The living area is paved with vintage cement tiles.

21:41To match the regional green of the walls, we're painting all the frames and the bottom of the walls.

21:48And the bottom of the costumes with the sage green.

21:56In the bedroom, the red applique was designed by Hoestad Leuchten in the 1960s.

22:04And it's the applique that I prefer in the house because it's the first one that we bought.

22:09It's a symbolic one.

22:12The entrance and the bedroom is connected.

22:14And so that's why we decided to put our clothes in the entrance and to make it functional.

22:22So we found a red painting on the wall.

22:26We found also a little heart.

22:29There's a little graved heart in the wall.

22:31It was covered by the paper.

22:33It's a religious sign.

22:38We keep the color and then we contrast with this red Pompeian color of the flower.

22:48The green coat hanger, we found it in a vintage store.

22:53We bought it because it was nice.

22:56It was funny.

23:01The bathroom is hidden under the mezzanine.

23:04It's a little space.

23:05So we prefer to have a big shower.

23:09To make more natural the bathroom, we choose to have a flower with stones.

23:14We mix with some vintage stuff like the basin that we found.

23:18Generally when we have a small space, we like to have some big furniture in a small place.

23:27The bright metal orange staircase leading to the mezzanine is a bold sculptural future in the room.

23:36Because we want another contrast with the apartment, so we put these orange stairs in steel.

23:43It's really nice to work upstairs because you have the landscape, you have the light of the terrace.

23:49It's really quiet and it's really nice.

23:51And you feel elevated.

23:57We designed this desk that can be put away to create a guest room.

24:05We have another set that goes to the terrace that we choose to make white to have more contrast with

24:11the orange one.

24:12The terrace is one of the best parts I think, yes.

24:16We spend also a lot of time in the morning because we have a hot shower.

24:21You can see the mountains, the volcanoes, the sea.

24:25And also all the historical parts of Naples.

24:28You see all the church.

24:33In small spaces, not everything has to be functional.

24:37This console, for example, that we put here is absolutely not functional.

24:44So it's a gift that we made to ourselves to have furniture in a small space, not functional.

24:52And these things feel like the space is bigger, I think.

24:57It's like some objects that make you happy.

25:04What does a magazine look like when you jam it full of intoxicating Greekness, dreamlike logic,

25:09Compeggi's convertible creations, robot-y sculptures, Jaime Hion's contagious creative compulsions,

25:15intimate home portraits from Japan, and Enzo Mari inspired creatures?

25:19Well, it looks like this, and this, and this, this, this, and this.

25:25And it includes sexy as hell small apartments from Amsterdam, Athens, and Milan too.

25:31As well as a spectacular archive of stickers and labels telling stories of design histories.

25:36And it also features the 100% definitive and scientifically proven principles of timeless design.

25:42Disclaimer, not 100% definitive or scientifically proven.

25:44Wait, there's more.

25:45There is a salami factory turned art museum, and there are very un-kitcheny kitchens,

25:51laundries, legacies, mythology, and some seriously hot pots.

25:55Oh my.

25:56Get your copy now.

26:08The apartment is located in Varazze.

26:13It's an old town on the Mediterranean coast in Liguria.

26:22This is the summer house of my client.

26:27The client wanted an apartment to be used from two or four people that could enjoy the space and the

26:36privacy.

26:39I like the idea to use a few defined multifunctional architecture elements,

26:45with the purpose of maximizing the space.

26:52I'm an Italian architect and I'm specialized in interior and furniture design,

27:00with big interest in multifunctional and flexible spaces.

27:06Varazze is famous for its old churches, for kilometers of sandy beaches and beautiful promenade.

27:18The building has been built in the 40s.

27:21It has always been a residential building and it has been recently renovated.

27:31It has always been built in the 40s.

27:32Besides the restaurant on the ground floor, the building is occupied by permanent residents and tourists.

27:41The attic building stands in front of the shore.

27:45You have a fantastic view over the Mediterranean Sea.

27:54When I first found the apartment, it was one big studio with a bathroom.

28:00I didn't make any change to the floor plan.

28:04I just had one custom-made furniture that integrates all the functions

28:09and works like an architecture piece that divides the bedroom to the rest of the apartment.

28:18The entrance is exactly in the middle of the apartment.

28:21It is featured by the presence of a multifunctional table.

28:26When the table is closed, you have a generous lobby that is connected with the balcony and with the sea

28:33view.

28:38When the table is open, you have a dining room.

28:42The table is from Company Clay with a rotating mechanism and a be-fold opening system.

28:57The living area is very cozy, very bright thanks to the presence of a skylight.

29:05We have two elements that characterize the space.

29:10A lower white lacquered furniture located at the base of the pitch roof

29:16that provides a TV rack, storage space and a bar.

29:22And in front of it, a dynamic wall, featured by the integration of storage,

29:29a walnut bookshelf and a fold-down transforming bed.

29:34This system allows, in the daytime, a big living area for guests.

29:41In the night, it's a real double bed, always ready to be used at any time, because it's fast and

29:48easy to open.

29:49The bed is opened and closed using a handle position on the front shelf.

29:58When open, the front shelf pivots to become a support of the bed and you don't have to remove any

30:05object from it.

30:09The kitchen is a full height block that follows the pitch roof lines.

30:16The kitchen is fully equipped with refrigerator, hot plate, oven and dishwasher.

30:27It has a lot of storage space that is covered by white lacquered doors.

30:35I put a floor to ceiling mirror at the end of the corridor between the door of the bathroom and

30:42the door of the bedroom to enlarge the prospective space.

30:48The sleeping room is the most complicated part of the apartment, probably because it's where the two pitch roofs are

30:56meeting and they live in very few square meters available.

31:03It has a pink bed that has a storage underneath.

31:08Then we have a lower block based at the end of the pitch roof provided in the TV rack and

31:15plenty of storage.

31:19The wardrobe has a back part of the centerpieces that divides the bedroom from the rest of the apartment.

31:31Through the other sliding door you can access the bathroom that has very light finishings.

31:42There is also skylight on the roof and a big mirror that also enlarges the prospective space.

31:52It has a built-in basin with a washing machine hidden underneath.

32:01We installed a bleached oak on the floor throughout the apartment to give continuity to the space.

32:08I used a lot of indirect light to emphasize the architecture structure.

32:14I combined it with many small spotlights all around the flat.

32:21There is no reason to let your square meters limit both the aesthetic and the functional potential of your home.

32:29Good design allows you to experience a small unit not as a compromise but as a lifestyle choice.

32:45I challenge myself to find a purpose for every single square meters of the apartment and to avoid any waste

32:53of space.

32:56The apartment is located in Madonna di Campagna district which is in northwest of Turin.

33:01On the street you can find coffee bars and several Italian delis.

33:10The building was built in 1957 and it has never been renovated since then.

33:25My name is Davide Minervini. I am an Italian architect from Turin, a city in the northwest of Italy.

33:33And I am also the owner of this apartment.

33:37The apartment was in very poor condition. The configuration of the space was not functional at all.

33:44There were also several structural mistakes that I tried to eliminate or at least hide during the renovation.

33:54The room on the right was the bedroom while the room on the left was the living room with the

34:00kitchenette.

34:01The first things I did was to switch the bedroom and the living room around so you are in the

34:07living room when entering the apartment.

34:09I demolished the entrance corridor. It was a terrible waste of space.

34:15I then increased the size of the bathroom by extending the bathroom walls.

34:20The old kitchenette was turned into a walk-in closet and the kitchen was moved to the living area into

34:27a custom-made wooden wall which stretches across the entire room.

34:34There is a small entrance as you enter the apartment. Here you'll find a storage wall which separates the entrance

34:42from the bathroom to create some privacy.

34:47For the living room I wanted to create two different areas despite it being only 18 square meters.

34:54A living room on one hand and a kitchen and dining on the other hand.

34:59Along one side of the wall I created a custom floor-to-ceiling integrated storage unit.

35:06For the inside I choose to use MDF with an oak laminate.

35:12It contrasts well with the white and makes the inside feel warmer.

35:17The TV is mounted on the wall and it is linked to the storage unit on the left.

35:23This is where I keep my PS4 and Amazon Alexa.

35:27There is a compact grey two-seat sofa that makes a natural separation between the living and the kitchen and

35:34dining area.

35:36I painted the ceiling black to enhance the white of the walls even further.

35:42The floor in the entire apartment is a light natural wood.

35:47On the other side of the living room is the kitchen.

35:51It sits by the balcony so it receives a lot of natural light.

35:55The kitchen appliances are cleverly hidden away behind some folding doors when not in use.

36:02This way the room can be transformed from time to time according to its use.

36:08There is a sink, an induction hob, an oven and a dishwasher.

36:14One of the drawers is oak, just for a bit of fun.

36:19I choose to have the splash back finished in a bright blue which really pops against the white of the

36:25kitchen.

36:26The dining table is from a local furniture shop.

36:30The table can be extended when I have guests over.

36:33Last Christmas I had 14 friends over for dinner in this room.

36:41Above the living area there is a ceiling lamp that lights up the sofa and the ottoman.

36:46In the dining area there is a custom triangular light that points to the dinner table.

36:52It is made from wood and polycarbonate.

36:55I designed it just for this space.

37:00Along one wall of the living and dining area I installed four IKEA backboards in a row.

37:07It is really handy to be able to hang items or store them in small containers.

37:13Plus it's really cheap.

37:17The hallway divides the living room and the bedroom.

37:21It is deliberately as small as possible.

37:24It houses my washing machine.

37:29The bedroom is a 15 square meters room.

37:32This room used to have a kitchenette which I turned into a walk-in closet.

37:38It is quite a luxury for a small apartment.

37:43Beside it is another custom storage unit and a large mirror.

37:48The walls in the bedroom are painted in the same bright blue as the kitchen's flashback.

37:53It creates a visual link between the rooms, especially when the doors to the living room and the bedroom are

38:00open.

38:01By the window there is a large wooden desk for when I work from home.

38:06There is a niche by the desk with shelves.

38:09I added a translucent door to keep my personal belongings.

38:13It also functions as a light.

38:18To make it easier to access the bay window when it needs a clean, I designed the top of the

38:24desk to open up like a bar counter.

38:29The original bathroom had a strange corner by the window.

38:33It was not functional at all, so I made a translucent partition made from wood and polycarbonate.

38:40It became the place I used to hide the boiler without losing the natural light from the window.

38:47For the finish, I chose to use a black floor resin with black elegant wall tiles and black paint for

38:54the rest of the wall.

38:56The ceiling and shower walls are white, which gives it a 3-dimensionality to this small room.

39:04Small spaces can be as elegant, fun and comfortable as bigger apartments.

39:10Tiny living spaces must find their quality and distinctive features to be attractive and comfortable for the majority of the

39:20people who live in cities like Turin or even bigger.

39:31The flat is located in the center of Florence.

39:36We think it was built in the 12th century.

39:41I wanted the house to be a precious corner of tranquility in the city.

39:46A place where people could find and express themselves.

39:50It's right in front of Palazzo Pitti in a residential area which is called Santo Spirito.

39:59It is the most authentic part of the city where, among the narrow alleys, you can find many workshops of

40:07restorers, carpenters, loot makers and blacksmiths.

40:20My name is Claudio Peratelli and I'm a partner architect at Peratelli Architettura Studio in Florence.

40:28The building is residential, so there are different kinds of people living in there, including me and my partner.

40:37This flat was a part of a bigger apartment of my parents' house and I decided to divide it and

40:46make an independent entrance and create completely a new style and a new atmosphere inside.

40:56This portion of the house was originally a living area with a bathroom.

41:00I realized a new kitchen and realized a new made-to-measure interior furniture and changed the materials and the

41:10colors.

41:12To help the flat breathe, I didn't want to have furniture all over the place and restrict the freedom of

41:19movement.

41:20I wanted to have an open space, free and easy to use.

41:25It was important for each of the areas to flow from one room to another.

41:32I chose white as the main color for the walls and the cabinets, with wood floors, blue feature walls and

41:40black accents.

41:46As you enter the flat, there is a bright window which brings in a lot of natural light to this

41:53narrow space.

41:54I also added a simple bar to handcoats.

41:59Walking further in, the area is surprisingly open to a double height space.

42:04Here you can see right through the arch to the kitchen and up the stairs to the loft bedroom.

42:11This added contrast between the vertical double height and the horizontal living area.

42:18The living room is down three steps of stairs.

42:21It has two different heights due to the loft.

42:25The first half is higher, so I installed white lacquered floating shelf that goes right up toward the ceiling.

42:33The highest shelf can actually be reached from the loft.

42:38Below the shelf is lacquered wooden bench that stretch across the length of the wall.

42:44It forms the base for the larger made-to-measure sofa with denim cushion on one side.

42:50And on the other side, there is a built-in planted box.

42:55Since the walls of the apartment are not parallel, I decided to design the sofa with one side shorter than

43:03the other.

43:03To make the room more symmetrical.

43:07We kept the area under the staircase simple, where there is a wall-mounted ATV, my bike and a stature.

43:16A round arch characterizes the space, giving depth and proportion to the area.

43:23The arch becomes a scenic backdrop framing both kitchen and living room.

43:30Through the indigo arch is the kitchen.

43:33The cabinets and appliances sit along the back wall in white lacquered wood.

43:39It is fully featured with a large sink, an articulating tap, an induction hob, an oven, a hidden dishwasher, fridge

43:49and a washing machine.

43:50There is also a white marble splash back in the back of the kitchen.

43:56Since I wanted the kitchen to be as clean as possible, I decided to put the air extractor in the

44:03fold ceiling on top of the sink.

44:05A small floating dining table sits across from the kitchen.

44:10The floating design frees up space underneath so we can comfortably seat two people and the chairs can be pushed

44:18all the way in when not in use.

44:21Up a step and through the door of the kitchen, there is a walk-in closet and the bathroom.

44:28The bathroom is compact but has everything you need.

44:32A tub with shower, wash basin, a toilet, a bidet and some shelves.

44:41The sleeping area is up the cantilever staircase which was originally there and I just changed the colors and the

44:51finishes.

44:52Because I really loved the fact that it is floating and not wasting so much space.

44:58We wanted to keep the loft minimal so it is simply furnished with a double bed and a bedside table.

45:06The jewel of this flat is the tiny window at the bedroom through which you can admire the dome of

45:14the Renaissance Church of Santo Spirito.

45:18A glass bellows allows lights to enter the room and harmoniously keep the flow throughout the rooms.

45:26The loft has access to a large walk-in closet and more storage for all of my things.

45:32It makes up more than half of the side of the loft.

45:35It helps me to keep the overall space tidy and uncluttered.

45:41The floor throughout the apartment is a French herringbone parquet.

45:46Its light natural finish and semi-reflective surface helps illuminate the whole flat.

45:55Usually when we design a little apartment we decide to bring as much light as possible inside.

46:01It will make the space feel bigger.

46:06Living in the city has a lot of advantages because you have everything you need just around the corner.

46:13You have your family and your friends close to you and you can also live the life of your neighbourhood.

46:20If you're sleeping on a sofa bed right now, it's largely because of this family.

46:25Multifunctional furniture as we know it was pioneered by Campeggi, a family business and brand founded in 1959, halfway between

46:32Milan and Lake Como.

46:33If you don't know the name Campeggi, you should, because we have a lot to thank these godfathers of what

46:38they call convertible furniture.

46:40We take convertible furniture for granted these days. Walk into any luxury showroom and you'll find sofas that become beds,

46:47beds that become lounge sets, lounge sets that split and divide, cell-like, into chairs, chairs that morph back into

46:53sofas.

46:54Flexibility is a core principle of modern design, but Campeggi were making multifunctional furniture before the industry even had a

47:01name for such things.

47:02Our current favourite is Brando, produced by Campeggi and designed by the award-winning Giuseppe Erezzi, a collapsible camp bed

47:09that resembles a giant upholstered centipede.

47:12Part chair, part recliner, part poof, Brando looks delightfully like it's about to crawl out of the living room door.

47:26The apartment is located in a downtown neighbourhood where tradition and innovation meets.

47:37The building is a residential building constructed in the late 19th century and completely refurbished in the 90s.

47:50My name is Caterina Pilar Palumbo and I'm an architect.

47:55I live and work in the apartment.

47:58I wanted a multifunctional space that is both a place to live and an architect's office.

48:07When I first saw the apartment, the first room was a living area and a kitchen.

48:14There was a door to a narrow and gloomy corridor.

48:19Up this corridor, there were three more doors.

48:23I also wanted to increase the light coming into the apartment, so I removed all the unnecessary doors and small

48:32walls and converted the storage room into a kitchen.

48:38I added the blue mezzanine and I created the subdivision between private and public areas.

48:50Since that the space is multifunctional, it's important to create fluidity between the different areas.

49:03Entering the apartment, you see the dining room and mating room with a round table and transparent folding chairs around

49:12it.

49:14There are a lot of display shelves on the walls, full of materials and samples.

49:22Looking up, you see the bookcase and the sliding blue step ladder that is used to read the books in

49:29my library and also to access the mezzanine.

49:33The kitchen is small and minimal, but it's carefully designed.

49:40There are two cupboards with flap doors, a small fridge, some drawers and a range hood.

49:49The bench top is deeper than usual because there are three hidden storage boxes at the rear.

49:59The bathroom hasn't been relocated and its fundamental layout is unchanged.

50:07A sliding plexical pane conceals the storage area and also functions as a shower screen.

50:15The ceiling is fully illuminated and everyone who comes in for the first time asks if there is a skylight.

50:23It's actually a custom-made plexial panel with concealed LED illumination.

50:31There is the office and the living area with two cantilevered wooden desks where I work and a blue sofa

50:40for both working and relaxing.

50:42The sofa is a Japanese put-on, so it can also become a bed for guests.

50:50I've designed a lot of cupboards on wheels that are used around the apartment for different functions.

50:58The one next to the sofa hides a projector, for example.

51:06The mezzanine intersects the two cubes, maximizing the space and dividing the private area above from the public area below.

51:17The handrail structure is designed as a frame to let the light come in.

51:24If you look out, you see the bookcase and the geometry of the 12 lights on the ceiling.

51:33Close to the wall, there are four white panels that slide open to reveal storage, the heater and the sleeping

51:41area.

51:44On the right there is a wardrobe and on the left a bed with a side table.

51:51A lamp is hung on the blue structure.

51:56To enlarge the space and give fluidity, I choose to restrict the palette of materials.

52:03The terrazzo floor, blue steel for the mezzanine, half-white tiles with small blue dots and white panels for storage.

52:18Bergamo is full of old buildings that we need to maintain and use.

52:23I like the possibilities that come from using new materials in antique spaces.

52:30Giving them new life is the most sustainable way to design.

52:39During the renovations, we discovered the beautiful frescoes underneath paint and render.

52:45We decided to make these walls a part of the apartment's design language.

52:51I'm Jacopo Rettondini, Lead Architects at Archiplan Studio.

52:58The building is located in the historical city center of Mantua, in the northern Italy region of Lombardy.

53:15The apartment is 36 square meters.

53:22The building was built in 15th century and has gone through a lot of transformation since then.

53:29It used to be the apartment for the client's grandman, but now her grandson lives here.

53:36The client brief was to divide the single apartment into two apartments.

53:43We decided to knock down the wall between the original rooms created a new entrance.

53:49Then we added a bathroom, a sleeping cube and the kitchen and dining area.

53:55All of this would be built around the cube that sits in the middle of the apartment.

54:04At the entrance, there is a pantry or a storage area where you can keep your keys and shoes.

54:11Just a few steps from the entrance, on the side of the wooden cube,

54:16is also an area to hang your coat.

54:21At one stage, the apartment resembled an archaeological site.

54:26We discovered the beautiful frescoes underneath paint and render.

54:32The walls underneath were scored and marked with signs of different ages,

54:37like something you will see in a museum.

54:42The living room is a combined space with the kitchen and dining room.

54:48We designed and made a long oak bench to sit by the window.

54:54We decorate it with objects, but it can also be an area where you can sit.

55:01We designed a simple kitchen that sits along the wall.

55:06The materials we used were wood painted in light grey for the cabinets

55:10and the brass finish for the lower section doors.

55:15We chose to go with an induction hob that can be mounted to the wall and place it on a

55:21counter when required.

55:23This frees up much needed kitchen counter space in a small apartment.

55:29The dining area sits along the wall of the cube.

55:34There is a floating bench seat integrated into the wall which double as a seat for the dining table.

55:41The dining table can be extended to sit up to eight guests and the bench against the wall can also

55:48be used as additional seating.

55:51The dining table can also be used as an office desk when working from home.

55:59Given the small size of the space and the particularity of the wall surfaces,

56:04it was immediately decided to create a central element, or the bedroom cube.

56:10Since the ceiling in the apartment is quite high, the cube does not go all the way to the ceiling.

56:17This helps visually by letting you see around the cube, but also helps with airflow around the apartment.

56:25Inside the cube is the bedroom.

56:27A double bed sits on top of a platform which is built in storage that can be accessed at the

56:33end of the bed.

56:34There is an integrated bed head at the other end of the bed,

56:38and there is an access to power points of both sides.

56:43Above the bed head, we built floating shelves all the way up for additional storage.

56:49We made little circular cutouts through the cube to frame the walls on the outside,

56:55and added two windows to allow visual relationship with the surrounding space.

57:01At the end of the bed, there is a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe that can be concealed by a curtain.

57:07The curtain makes for a softer division of the space, and makes it easier to walk through the area.

57:16The bathroom starts just outside of the bedroom entrance.

57:21There is a square resin sink which sits on an oak bench, the same as the one in the living

57:28area.

57:29To keep things a minimal, we placed all the plumbing within the base of the sink.

57:36Through a sliding door is where the rest of the bathroom is.

57:40There is a shower, a bidet, and a toilet.

57:43We placed the plumbing into the wall to reduce the space needed for the toilet system.

57:51We think it is important to make custom furniture for these small spaces in order to make full use of

57:59the space and keep the design cohesive.

58:02It is also important to maintain historical aspects of the building while introducing contemporary elements.

58:10The idea is to maximize and bring character to the limited space, to create a sort of character between the

58:18space, the furniture itself, and who lives there.

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