Issue 1 of the NTS Magazine is finally available for purchase! Limited copies available so head to https://www.nevertoosmall.com/magazine to grab your copy now.
Take a look inside some of Australia’s best-designed small apartments under 30sqm/323sqft featured on Never Too Small. These innovative homes include a colourful Sydney studio with a bold deep green kitchen as its heart and freestanding furniture for flexible living. Compact storage solutions and multifunctional spaces transform from study to dining area and even to a bedroom in Melbourne’s iconic Art Deco Cairo Apartments and the Japanese 5S organisation method inspires a minimalist Sydney apartment neatly divided by a moving screen, a split wet and dry kitchen and a portable dining table that tucks neatly away into the kitchen cabinetry. Each apartment showcases how thoughtful design can turn compact spaces into highly functional homes without sacrificing style or comfort.
#smallapartment #architecture #interiordesign
Episodes & Credits
00:00 - 04:42 Boneca Apartment
https://youtu.be/daL7TkzyW7k?si=Qp9MuR46FLFRiyAV
Architect: https://bradswartz.com.au/
04:42 - 10:35 Cairo Flat
https://youtu.be/bA6C7QvTqZQ?si=baakWkWbcY2VLceC
Architect: https://architecturearchitecture.com.au/projects/the-purple-rose-of-cairo
10:35 - 19:40 Darley Studio
https://youtu.be/pbNjs3S52-Y?si=YLyLc7myC3XNYVvu
Architect: https://www.mone-studio.com/
19:40 - 23:08 5S
https://youtu.be/hEsMjMmpHZ4?si=jmubjREA0Syt47H4
Architect: https://www.nicholasgurney.com.au/
23:08 - 27:04 George Studio Apartment
https://youtu.be/ACWiTrg3f90?si=UspF9_edWYu1Zrfh
Architect: Douglas Wan
27:04 - 33:16 Bayside
https://youtu.be/PZK3gjAVbuA?si=O7TiszjtPS5VISSO
Architect: https://bradswartz.com.au/
33:16 - 38:55 Itinerant Apartment
https://youtu.be/Uc4NufImsbc?si=rJK5oTdQP0ZC383E
Architect: https://www.tasquare.com/
38:55 - 43:38 Tara
https://youtu.be/S-KsCfne6qw?si=59WQYknziYRTjpRl
Architect: https://www.nicholasgurney.com.au/
43:38 - 48:51 Nano Pad
https://youtu.be/WuoYXDH0NNs?si=O-oGYpZBBnQ5YvlA
Architect: https://studioprineas.com.au/
48:51 - 52:05 Microluxe Apartment
https://youtu.be/t9dDOOPG8Pk?si=lOslsRJiXA_ZKWsB
Architect: https://www.studio-edwards.com/
52:05 - 58:12 Mark II
https://youtu.be/OoGD-HVLUuw?si=n6PeqyFQ97hD2gDn
Architect: https://www.nicholasgurney.com.au/
58:12 - 1:02:09 Cairo Studio
https://youtu.be/bZpReNKFBeA?si=6BezbWCaTxqfn3hK
Architect: https://agiusscorpo.com/
1:02:09 - 1:08:51 TANSU
https://youtu.be/aF9rmVnLrBM?si=GcB_QxBjBaDYadwg
Architect: https://www.nicholasgurney.com.au/
Share you 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
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Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/nvtsmall
Take a look inside some of Australia’s best-designed small apartments under 30sqm/323sqft featured on Never Too Small. These innovative homes include a colourful Sydney studio with a bold deep green kitchen as its heart and freestanding furniture for flexible living. Compact storage solutions and multifunctional spaces transform from study to dining area and even to a bedroom in Melbourne’s iconic Art Deco Cairo Apartments and the Japanese 5S organisation method inspires a minimalist Sydney apartment neatly divided by a moving screen, a split wet and dry kitchen and a portable dining table that tucks neatly away into the kitchen cabinetry. Each apartment showcases how thoughtful design can turn compact spaces into highly functional homes without sacrificing style or comfort.
#smallapartment #architecture #interiordesign
Episodes & Credits
00:00 - 04:42 Boneca Apartment
https://youtu.be/daL7TkzyW7k?si=Qp9MuR46FLFRiyAV
Architect: https://bradswartz.com.au/
04:42 - 10:35 Cairo Flat
https://youtu.be/bA6C7QvTqZQ?si=baakWkWbcY2VLceC
Architect: https://architecturearchitecture.com.au/projects/the-purple-rose-of-cairo
10:35 - 19:40 Darley Studio
https://youtu.be/pbNjs3S52-Y?si=YLyLc7myC3XNYVvu
Architect: https://www.mone-studio.com/
19:40 - 23:08 5S
https://youtu.be/hEsMjMmpHZ4?si=jmubjREA0Syt47H4
Architect: https://www.nicholasgurney.com.au/
23:08 - 27:04 George Studio Apartment
https://youtu.be/ACWiTrg3f90?si=UspF9_edWYu1Zrfh
Architect: Douglas Wan
27:04 - 33:16 Bayside
https://youtu.be/PZK3gjAVbuA?si=O7TiszjtPS5VISSO
Architect: https://bradswartz.com.au/
33:16 - 38:55 Itinerant Apartment
https://youtu.be/Uc4NufImsbc?si=rJK5oTdQP0ZC383E
Architect: https://www.tasquare.com/
38:55 - 43:38 Tara
https://youtu.be/S-KsCfne6qw?si=59WQYknziYRTjpRl
Architect: https://www.nicholasgurney.com.au/
43:38 - 48:51 Nano Pad
https://youtu.be/WuoYXDH0NNs?si=O-oGYpZBBnQ5YvlA
Architect: https://studioprineas.com.au/
48:51 - 52:05 Microluxe Apartment
https://youtu.be/t9dDOOPG8Pk?si=lOslsRJiXA_ZKWsB
Architect: https://www.studio-edwards.com/
52:05 - 58:12 Mark II
https://youtu.be/OoGD-HVLUuw?si=n6PeqyFQ97hD2gDn
Architect: https://www.nicholasgurney.com.au/
58:12 - 1:02:09 Cairo Studio
https://youtu.be/bZpReNKFBeA?si=6BezbWCaTxqfn3hK
Architect: https://agiusscorpo.com/
1:02:09 - 1:08:51 TANSU
https://youtu.be/aF9rmVnLrBM?si=GcB_QxBjBaDYadwg
Architect: https://www.nicholasgurney.com.au/
Share you 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
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Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/nvtsmall
Category
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00:05This apartment's located in Rush Cutters Bay, which is a suburb in walking distance of the
00:00:10city as well as Sydney Harbour. This apartment building was built in the 1960s and there's
00:00:18about 40 studio apartments in the block. This apartment's 24 square metres.
00:00:30When we first got the apartment, it was completely different to what it currently is. When you walked
00:00:35in the original apartment, you entered through a corridor which contained the kitchen and the
00:00:39living space was combined with the bedroom. We completely demolished everything within the
00:00:47existing apartment. We decided it was really important to have a strong divide between what's
00:00:54sleeping and what's living. So we contained the amenities of the apartment and the sleeping
00:00:59space in the smallest possible area, so the living area could be as big as possible.
00:01:07So the design idea was to have a sliding screen that could determine the function of the apartment
00:01:13at any one time. We spent a lot of time trying to work out what the screen should be. Whether
00:01:21it was one screen, two screens, whether it was glass or whether it was something perforated. We
00:01:27set it on a timber screen. The timber screen creates a visual separation from the bedroom to
00:01:33the living area while still allowing light to pass through when the bedroom space is closed.
00:01:41At night, it can slide over the kitchen, opens up a sleeping space. There's a little open shelf which
00:01:51acts as a bedside table and includes integrated lighting. The bed's raised up and includes drawers
00:02:00underneath it for extra storage. One thing unique about the apartment is the full width windows.
00:02:08And we wanted to make that obvious from the moment you walk in. We angled the joinery unit next to
00:02:15the bed so that you can pick up light and a sense of space. The material palette was kept to
00:02:21a minimum.
00:02:22The black butt timber screen is the same as a black butt timber floor that it added a softness to
00:02:27the
00:02:27apartment. The bathroom and walk-in robe are accessed via a hidden door.
00:02:38Combining the bathroom and your walk-in robe makes the whole space feel much bigger.
00:02:46The grey tiles in the bathroom complement the timber floor, gives the whole apartment a really earthy feel.
00:02:55And combined with concealed lighting create a luxurious feel as well.
00:03:02As soon as you walk through that door, there's a full length mirror beyond. It gives you a sense of
00:03:07a larger space.
00:03:09The kitchen was really carefully considered. It includes a fridge, an oven, a dish drawer.
00:03:20One of my favourite parts of the apartment is the cutlery drawer.
00:03:23Because it asks the question of what is actually required from a cutlery drawer.
00:03:28And instead of the cutlery having to sit side by side, it can sit back to back.
00:03:32The kitchen also integrates a little appliance cupboard.
00:03:37Incorporate a full height pantry stack.
00:03:40With the minimal material palette, our bench top and splash back are also a grey concrete.
00:03:47Something that we always try to do is create designated spaces within our apartments.
00:03:55So there's a space for sleeping, there's a space for living, there's a bathroom,
00:03:59there's a walking robe in this case.
00:04:02And within that, you have all the elements that you're required to make you comfortable.
00:04:10Cities like Sydney have some amazing old housing stock that's been solidly built and isn't going anywhere.
00:04:20And repurposing that amazing housing stock to bring it up to the way we want to live our life now
00:04:26or just giving it a refresh is one of the most sustainable ways we can continue to grow our cities.
00:04:54The Cairo Flats are listed on the Heritage Register as being historically significant.
00:05:01One of the first examples of serially arranged flats, so side by side and stacked on top of one another.
00:05:08Also for their so-called heroic use of cantilevered concrete in the balconies and the spiral staircase.
00:05:15This apartment is a meagre 23.1 square metres.
00:05:18But the challenge of an apartment like this obviously is in 23 square metres,
00:05:23how can you have an apartment where you can sleep, study, entertain,
00:05:28you know, all the things that you might want to do in a normal house.
00:05:32Even though they're quite small, they do a couple of things that make them feel much bigger.
00:05:37As soon as you walk in the door, you're greeted with, you know, an expanse of view onto the garden.
00:05:43The apartment does a number of things quite well.
00:05:45Firstly, they're north facing, so they're getting a lot of great natural light.
00:05:50You've got windows on both sides of the apartment, so you get really excellent cross ventilation.
00:05:54So it was really important in a space like this to get things in the right position.
00:05:59I made a few minor modifications to the space,
00:06:02moving things out of the way where they're cluttering free movement.
00:06:07Bookshelves, wardrobe, bed, extra objects stuck in the room, they're all integrated into the wall.
00:06:12When you're designing a small space, you really need to make sure that you're using the edges of a room
00:06:17well,
00:06:17that you've got places where you can put furniture without interrupting paths of movement.
00:06:24So you want to be very conscious of where the doors are,
00:06:27how you're moving through a space and where you're going to place furniture within that.
00:06:31So the curtain's definitely a bit of a theatrical element.
00:06:34I can use it to cover up all of my clothes and books and personal bits and pieces
00:06:40and make it a bit more of a living space rather than a bedroom.
00:06:43Often you have curtains bunched up either side of a window
00:06:46and that often cuts out about, you know, a metre of window space.
00:06:50But with the curtain that you can pull right off the window,
00:06:52you get to enjoy the full view.
00:06:54So making the most of the sense of expansive space that extends out into the garden.
00:06:59I guess when you're designing a small space,
00:07:01you want to make sure that everything needs to be performing at least one,
00:07:05if not two or three functions.
00:07:07If I have friends over for dinner,
00:07:09I take my desk, which doubles as my dining table,
00:07:13I pull it out into the middle of the room,
00:07:15bring a couple of the outside chairs in
00:07:17and then I've got a dining setting.
00:07:21The challenge of living in a space this small
00:07:23is designing it in ways so that you can enjoy all of the things
00:07:28that a normal house would have.
00:07:29Somewhere to sleep, somewhere to eat, somewhere to study.
00:07:33This window used to be the kitchen door,
00:07:36which meant that you couldn't actually put anything up against that wall.
00:07:40Closing that in and turning it into a servery window
00:07:43meant that I can now fold the bed down into that position.
00:07:46At night time, I pull the curtain back,
00:07:49the bed folds down and it comes all the way around to the front window
00:07:53and closes the room in, makes it a nice cosy space to sleep.
00:07:56The kitchen was renovated in around about 2000
00:08:00by someone who lived here before me and hasn't been modified since.
00:08:06The bathroom is almost frustratingly large
00:08:09given the size of this very small apartment.
00:08:12It's actually bigger than the kitchen, which seems mad now.
00:08:15Because the bathroom is so large,
00:08:17it kind of makes for the perfect space
00:08:19to have your laundry as well.
00:08:20So there's a washing machine in there.
00:08:23It has a bathtub.
00:08:24I was definitely keen on keeping that bathtub.
00:08:27It's a little bit of luxury in such a small space.
00:08:30I think when you've got a really well-built building
00:08:33like the Cairo Flats,
00:08:35the last thing you want to be doing,
00:08:37apart from its historical value,
00:08:39is knocking it down
00:08:40because it's providing another kind of housing
00:08:43which doesn't really exist elsewhere,
00:08:45which really suits a certain kind of resident
00:08:47at a certain time in their lives.
00:08:49An apartment like this demonstrates
00:08:51that you don't need a McMansion
00:08:54to fulfil all of your needs.
00:08:56A place of this size isn't going to suit everybody
00:08:59but nevertheless it demonstrates
00:09:01that if you're clever with space
00:09:03you can live in a smaller footprint
00:09:06than you otherwise might think.
00:09:08Populations are growing.
00:09:09We need to be thinking about
00:09:11how we're going to house people
00:09:13more space efficiently.
00:09:17It's, you know, environmentally irresponsible
00:09:19just knocking buildings down
00:09:20and building new all the time.
00:09:22We need to be thinking about
00:09:23how we can repurpose what we've already got.
00:09:27Never Too Small Magazine, issue one.
00:09:30Jam-packed with stories, surprises,
00:09:32ideas and inspiration.
00:09:34All with you city dwellers in mind.
00:09:36Step into the world of Atoma
00:09:37where romanticism, artisanal craftsmanship
00:09:40and Italian flair
00:09:41are distilled into jewel box-like apartments.
00:09:44Visit the studio of Ramesh Mario Nithyendran
00:09:47where Barbie, big cats and Buddhas
00:09:49inspire his colourful creations.
00:09:51Explore three of our favourite
00:09:52small footprint homes from around the world
00:09:54each featuring nifty pull-out floor plans
00:09:56and discover a treasure trove
00:09:58of vintage and pre-loved apartment finds.
00:10:01Interrogate the origins and appeal
00:10:03of a slouchy 70s icon
00:10:04and meet our mate, Robbie Neville
00:10:06who wants us to get better at making shit
00:10:08with the shit we already have.
00:10:10Find out why the Barbican
00:10:11is London's greatest mistake
00:10:12and discover a new breed of pet furniture
00:10:14designed for style
00:10:15and our small footprint lives.
00:10:17Plus, there's storage porn,
00:10:19sexy bikes,
00:10:20chairs with bums
00:10:21and a beautiful pull-out poster surprise.
00:10:24Buy issue one now in our store
00:10:26or join the NTS Sub Club
00:10:27and never miss an issue
00:10:28all while enjoying free shipping.
00:10:30Visit nevertosmall.com forward slash magazine.
00:10:42I had been on a walk in a rainforest
00:10:45in Queenstown in Tasmania.
00:10:47really deep green rainforest
00:10:51and this idea came to me
00:10:53that a green kitchen
00:10:54would be really nice in this space.
00:10:58The brief was just to introduce
00:11:00new contemporary joinery
00:11:02that could house a more modern life
00:11:05leaving space for a little spontaneity
00:11:08to happen in the space.
00:11:19My name's Eleanor Paris.
00:11:21I'm an architect
00:11:22and I live in this 27-metre-squared studio.
00:11:27Ballina is a pair of heritage brick buildings
00:11:32in Darlinghurst,
00:11:33which is an inner city,
00:11:35Sydney suburb
00:11:36that has loads of shops,
00:11:38pubs, cafes
00:11:39around the neighbourhood.
00:11:44We're on the Gadigal lands
00:11:45of the Eora Nation.
00:11:52So I used to go to inspections
00:11:54to look at the architecture details
00:11:55when I was studying architecture
00:11:56of these old Art Deco buildings.
00:11:58I just liked them.
00:12:00When this place came up for sale,
00:12:02I had started to look for
00:12:03something to invest in
00:12:04and I came in here
00:12:06and thought,
00:12:07I've been here before.
00:12:07This feels really familiar.
00:12:09I was like,
00:12:09oh yeah,
00:12:10I came here years ago
00:12:11and it felt good then
00:12:12and it still felt good.
00:12:15These are Art Deco buildings
00:12:17so built around 1930
00:12:20with special brick details
00:12:21at the entrances,
00:12:23coloured tiles in the entry floor
00:12:25and stained glass windows
00:12:27through the stairwell.
00:12:30These kind of buildings
00:12:31I think are really typical
00:12:32of Sydney.
00:12:34It was originally built
00:12:36for the nuns
00:12:37that volunteered
00:12:38at the nearby hospital.
00:12:45I wanted to make the space
00:12:47feel large and spacious
00:12:48but also provide a lot of storage
00:12:51and proper cooking facilities
00:12:53and all the tools
00:12:54for everyday life.
00:12:59When I first saw the space
00:13:00it was a simple studio layout
00:13:03seating around the window
00:13:04that moved into a kitchen space
00:13:06quite separate
00:13:07and there was a partition wall
00:13:09separating the main living bedroom area
00:13:11from the kitchen.
00:13:14removing that large cupboard
00:13:16allowed a continuous piece
00:13:17of bench height joinery
00:13:19to run from the back wall
00:13:20all the way through
00:13:21into the living space
00:13:22and on the other wall
00:13:24a longer, taller joinery element
00:13:26that incorporated a cooking nook.
00:13:38as you enter into the apartment
00:13:40you see the original floors
00:13:42which have been sanded back
00:13:44and re-oiled
00:13:46above the door
00:13:47all the technology
00:13:48like NBN
00:13:49and internet
00:13:50and a projector
00:13:51are hidden by a special art piece
00:13:53my friend Ed made
00:13:56on the back of the door
00:13:57and around the wall
00:13:58are hooks to hang your bags
00:14:00coats
00:14:01umbrella
00:14:03because storage space is tight
00:14:05I use drawers
00:14:06underneath the bed
00:14:07by the door
00:14:08to store all my shoes
00:14:12the first space you enter into
00:14:14is
00:14:15quite flexible
00:14:16it's the living
00:14:17working
00:14:18dining
00:14:18corner
00:14:20there's two large
00:14:21original windows here
00:14:23which
00:14:23is one of my favourite parts
00:14:25of the apartment
00:14:26they face east
00:14:27and they have this beautiful light
00:14:28streaming in
00:14:29in the morning
00:14:29they have
00:14:31a block out blind
00:14:32over both
00:14:32and a floor-to-ceiling
00:14:34sheer curtain
00:14:35that really soften this corner
00:14:36you get a great breeze
00:14:38flowing through
00:14:38these two windows
00:14:39and they're
00:14:40a really lovely memory
00:14:41of the original design
00:14:48there's a set of stacking stools
00:14:50that move around the apartment
00:14:51as need be
00:14:53if more friends come over
00:14:55they store plants
00:14:56or I use them as a stool
00:14:57to get up to high cupboards
00:15:02I love to collect books
00:15:04and have them on display
00:15:05in the space
00:15:06where the tall joinery
00:15:08meets with the living space
00:15:10was a perfect corner
00:15:11to integrate a small library
00:15:14the best part of the new kitchen
00:15:15is that it no longer feels
00:15:17like a separate space
00:15:19the mirror definitely
00:15:20makes the depth
00:15:22of the space
00:15:22feel great up
00:15:24the bench itself
00:15:25is a stainless steel
00:15:27folded bench
00:15:28with the sink
00:15:29welded in
00:15:31the green
00:15:32there's a
00:15:32laminate material
00:15:34sprayed
00:15:34with a
00:15:35re-seen custom finish
00:15:37we've built in
00:15:38a washer dryer
00:15:40mini laundry
00:15:41under the bench
00:15:42an integrated dishwasher
00:15:44general storage
00:15:46on the taller side
00:15:48of the kitchen
00:15:49there's a
00:15:50integrated fridge
00:15:51and freezer
00:15:51a small wardrobe
00:15:53an oven
00:15:53drawers to stall
00:15:55all the cooking equipment
00:16:01in the cooking nook
00:16:02the same stainless steel
00:16:03bench top
00:16:04is used
00:16:05but to mount
00:16:06an integrated
00:16:06gas burner stove
00:16:12the wall tiles
00:16:13in the kitchen
00:16:14are the same
00:16:15Kit Kat
00:16:16Japanese
00:16:16ceramic product
00:16:18I wanted to create
00:16:20a special feature
00:16:21so I commissioned
00:16:22a friend
00:16:22to
00:16:23design a series
00:16:24of custom
00:16:25insert tiles
00:16:27to scatter around
00:16:28that
00:16:28almost create
00:16:29a small exhibition
00:16:30throughout the space
00:16:35the new light
00:16:35in the kitchen
00:16:36uses the original
00:16:37electrical point
00:16:39and eye hooks
00:16:40to track new lighting
00:16:41across to different
00:16:42spaces
00:16:42where we needed it
00:16:43so in the kitchen
00:16:44it's above the sink
00:16:50the bed is a king
00:16:52a lot of people
00:16:53suggest I
00:16:54have a smaller bed
00:16:56to make better use
00:16:57of the space
00:16:57but the king
00:16:58feels palatial
00:16:59and creates
00:17:01so much storage
00:17:02underneath
00:17:03most of the things
00:17:04I own in the apartment
00:17:05are under the bed
00:17:07shoes
00:17:07bags
00:17:08jackets
00:17:09in the middle
00:17:10underneath
00:17:11there's a large
00:17:12longer space
00:17:13for suitcases
00:17:15and larger items
00:17:17the bedside table
00:17:19is a folded
00:17:20sheet metal shelf
00:17:21I needed a space
00:17:23to have objects
00:17:24by the bed
00:17:24that still gave access
00:17:26to the drawers
00:17:27underneath
00:17:27and through to the bathroom
00:17:31that rock
00:17:32it's from a residency
00:17:34I did in the west coast
00:17:35of Tassie
00:17:36and one of my friends
00:17:37makes artwork with rocks
00:17:39and he gave that to me
00:17:40when he gave me a tour
00:17:41of the mines
00:17:47the bathroom is the only
00:17:49space in the apartment
00:17:50with its own door
00:17:51which is the original door
00:17:53it's almost a hundred
00:17:54years old
00:17:55and stripped back the paint
00:17:56off that window
00:17:57to reveal this beautiful
00:17:58fluted glass
00:17:59glass
00:18:00the floor towels
00:18:01in the bathroom
00:18:02are a new
00:18:03light terrazzo
00:18:04which are a nod
00:18:05to features
00:18:06of terrazzo
00:18:07throughout the building
00:18:09the bath is original
00:18:10and has just been
00:18:11sprayed with
00:18:12an enamel paint
00:18:14I put in a
00:18:15floor to ceiling
00:18:16white shower curtain
00:18:17in this space
00:18:18so that when you're
00:18:19not showering
00:18:19the space feels
00:18:20as big as possible
00:18:21and there's a large
00:18:23mirror cabinet
00:18:24mounted on the wall
00:18:25that creates
00:18:26this great shelf
00:18:27on top to store
00:18:28small objects
00:18:29that I collect
00:18:34we're lucky
00:18:35that the apartment
00:18:36is on the corner
00:18:37because that means
00:18:37the bathroom has
00:18:38a window into the alleyway
00:18:40between the two buildings
00:18:41and that brings
00:18:42beautiful fresh air
00:18:43into the space
00:18:48the wall tiles
00:18:49are the same as
00:18:50in the kitchen
00:18:51with small paintings
00:18:52by Angus
00:18:53scattered around
00:18:57when designing a small space
00:19:00I think it's important
00:19:01to make that space
00:19:03work hard
00:19:04so that living in it
00:19:05feels a little more simple
00:19:09in designing a tiny home
00:19:11I was quite inspired
00:19:12by how Japanese people
00:19:13live in big cities
00:19:15especially in Tokyo
00:19:17actually people end up
00:19:18spending a lot of their time
00:19:19outside the apartment
00:19:20and I think that's a really
00:19:21beautiful balance
00:19:22between creating a really
00:19:24peaceful place inside
00:19:25but also in places
00:19:26where you have a sense
00:19:27of community
00:19:455S is a Japanese methodology
00:19:48roughly translate to
00:19:49sort, set in order,
00:19:51standardise, sustain
00:19:52and shine
00:19:57the inspiration for this design
00:19:59came from the clients
00:20:00and their interest in
00:20:01minimalism
00:20:02and exploring ways
00:20:03to live with less
00:20:04and be very ingrained
00:20:05in their locale
00:20:06and in the local amenity
00:20:12it's a late 60s building
00:20:14sort of built in that 50s style
00:20:16or a very sort of modern style
00:20:17and it has really wonderful views
00:20:19and the balconies are expressed
00:20:21on the outside of the building
00:20:27this is a 24 square meter space
00:20:29this is a 24 square meter space
00:20:30originally the kitchen
00:20:31is where the sleeping nook
00:20:32is now
00:20:32the kitchen was moved
00:20:34out of that space
00:20:36we split the kitchen
00:20:36into two wings
00:20:37a wet kitchen
00:20:38which has the sink
00:20:39the hot water unit
00:20:40and some storage underneath
00:20:41and an area to dry things
00:20:42over the top of the kitchen
00:20:44as you wash up
00:20:45you can just store things
00:20:46directly in the cupboard
00:20:46and then you can just rely on
00:20:48them drying
00:20:48and dripping down into the sink
00:20:50and then the dry kitchen
00:20:52is an area for
00:20:53primarily for cooking
00:20:54and for preparation
00:20:56the bench for the dry kitchen
00:20:57is very much like a workbench
00:20:58and it has a sort of
00:20:59floating quality
00:21:00to give the space
00:21:01a lightness
00:21:02it also has a table
00:21:04that can be neatly stored away
00:21:05as part of the kitchen
00:21:06and then brought out
00:21:07when it comes time to dining
00:21:14the bathroom
00:21:15is adapted from
00:21:16the original bathroom
00:21:18what we did is actually
00:21:19maintain what was nice
00:21:20about the original bathroom
00:21:21and then put an additional
00:21:23contemporary layer over the top
00:21:25for the bathroom
00:21:31in the sleeping nook
00:21:32we use the overhead space
00:21:33above where you would sleep
00:21:34for the storage of clothes
00:21:39it's always a good idea
00:21:40in small spaces to be able
00:21:41to use the space
00:21:42that is otherwise left void
00:21:47to best separate the sleeping nook
00:21:49from the hole
00:21:50or from the living area
00:21:51we decided to employ
00:21:52a folding
00:21:54perforated metal screen
00:21:55and the idea is that
00:21:56that gives us
00:21:56some level of privacy
00:21:58between the two zones
00:21:59it also enables
00:22:00the permeation of light
00:22:01and breeze
00:22:01and one of the breeze
00:22:02from the clients
00:22:03from the outset
00:22:04was that they wanted a TV
00:22:05both in the living room
00:22:05and a TV in the bedroom
00:22:07we decided well
00:22:07we could have the one TV
00:22:08service both areas
00:22:09and we could fit it
00:22:11to the folding wall
00:22:16one of the things
00:22:17that we did in the beginning
00:22:18is make a catalogue
00:22:19of all the items
00:22:20that the owners had intended
00:22:21to put into the place
00:22:22that was right down
00:22:22to the appliance
00:22:23they would use in the kitchen
00:22:24but they didn't want seen
00:22:25and then applied the Japanese
00:22:265S methodology
00:22:27to the storage requirements
00:22:29for the apartment
00:22:33the clients could sort of
00:22:34sort and sustain their
00:22:36belongings
00:22:36and consider the things
00:22:37that they lived amongst
00:22:40good small space design
00:22:42for me
00:22:42is an outcome
00:22:43where the function
00:22:45or the utility
00:22:46of that space
00:22:47is perfectly matched
00:22:48to the beauty
00:22:49of the space
00:22:51this design
00:22:52is a kind of blank canvas
00:22:53for the occupants
00:22:54to live with less
00:22:55and to not detract
00:22:56from the wonderful view
00:22:58that the apartment
00:22:58benefits from
00:23:14how you experience space
00:23:16is marked by the sequence
00:23:18of moving through space
00:23:19through varying heights
00:23:21and through material change
00:23:24it's all about contrast
00:23:25it's all about depth
00:23:26it's all about layering
00:23:27of views
00:23:30the apartment block
00:23:31is built in the 1950s
00:23:34it's 28 square metres
00:23:36we gutted the apartment
00:23:38completely
00:23:38and then we installed
00:23:40a couple of steel beams
00:23:41to pick up loads
00:23:42from above
00:23:43then it allowed me
00:23:46to completely reorganise
00:23:48the space below
00:23:53the apartment is a series
00:23:55of small spaces
00:23:56the first half of the space
00:23:59is marked by three compartments
00:24:01the kitchen
00:24:02the bathroom
00:24:04and the threshold
00:24:07as you come in
00:24:08there's that tile
00:24:09on the ground
00:24:10which continues on
00:24:11into the bathroom
00:24:12which continues up the wall
00:24:13which ends at the ceiling
00:24:15gives you the sense of continuity
00:24:16from one space
00:24:17into the next
00:24:20the choice of black and red
00:24:22it's used to heighten
00:24:24an already intimate space
00:24:27the full height mirror
00:24:28layers the space
00:24:29even further
00:24:33what binds the kitchen
00:24:34and the bathroom together
00:24:36it's a threshold
00:24:38that hides all your plumbing
00:24:40and the wardrobe
00:24:41is camouflaged
00:24:42in this portal
00:24:46all of that
00:24:47you would find in a
00:24:48typical kitchen
00:24:50it's now compressed
00:24:50but everything's still there
00:24:53all it takes
00:24:54is a bit of
00:24:56jigsaw
00:24:58having that black kitchen
00:24:59as you come into the space
00:25:00pulls your eye
00:25:01through the kitchen
00:25:02through the light
00:25:03gives you a hint of
00:25:04what's in the next room
00:25:07if you're preparing food
00:25:09in the kitchen
00:25:09they're all
00:25:10matte
00:25:11black background receipts
00:25:12and
00:25:13the immediacy of
00:25:14what's in your hand
00:25:15is heightened
00:25:17the bench top
00:25:18is a servery
00:25:19but it's also easy
00:25:21mise en place
00:25:21with the joinery
00:25:23it went full height
00:25:23so there is deep storage
00:25:25which accessible
00:25:26from both sides
00:25:28if you can't reach the top shelf
00:25:30from the kitchen
00:25:31then you can reach it
00:25:33from the platform
00:25:34on the other side
00:25:38the platform
00:25:38it's about the range
00:25:40of affordances
00:25:41that come with
00:25:42this horizontal plane
00:25:44rather than
00:25:45fixed elements
00:25:48the simple plane
00:25:49creates a space
00:25:50under and over
00:25:51so there's that transition
00:25:53in height as well
00:25:54so the volume
00:25:55of the space
00:25:55is changed
00:25:58it's a space
00:25:59that the bed
00:26:00sits on
00:26:00the bed slides under
00:26:02put the table
00:26:02on the platform
00:26:04it seats
00:26:06six comfortably
00:26:07the ply
00:26:08continues on
00:26:10along the edges
00:26:11of the plane
00:26:11with extra storage
00:26:18I suppose
00:26:18what I wanted for
00:26:19the main space
00:26:22is the simplest gesture
00:26:24possible
00:26:24it's a horizontal plane
00:26:25oriented towards the view
00:26:27the large window
00:26:29in the living
00:26:30faces east
00:26:31and you get that sense
00:26:33of how it transitions
00:26:34throughout the day
00:26:35from morning sun
00:26:36streaming in
00:26:36all the way to
00:26:37purple hues
00:26:39of the evening
00:26:42these small spaces
00:26:44it's all about
00:26:45doing simple things
00:26:47to build upon
00:26:49the basic
00:26:50fundamentals
00:26:51of living
00:26:53and the space
00:26:54starts to unfold itself
00:27:06my client for this project
00:27:08is a young couple
00:27:10this is their first home
00:27:11and they are unashamedly
00:27:14minimalists
00:27:16the apartment had been
00:27:17untouched for the best part
00:27:18of 50 years
00:27:19it had very very strong
00:27:211960s and early 1970s
00:27:23design cues
00:27:25the clients really understood
00:27:27and knew what they wanted
00:27:29importantly that was to maintain
00:27:31that very 1960s
00:27:3270s sensibility
00:27:40this apartment is very near
00:27:42Rushcutters Bay Park
00:27:43and Rushcutters Bay Foreshore
00:27:47it's very close to the city of Sydney
00:27:49and it's in a really wonderful walkable neighbourhood
00:27:55this building was built in 1970
00:27:59the first point of their brief was to have something very open
00:28:02light and airy
00:28:03in the kitchen space they wanted to use a lot of timber elements
00:28:06to sort of hark back to that mid-century style retro appliances where possible
00:28:11and they were also very interested to have a breakfast bar come dining area
00:28:15so that was a very important part of their brief
00:28:19the apartment was in original 50 year old condition
00:28:22there was carpet throughout
00:28:23and in the contained kitchen was linoleum
00:28:26it was a very retro and very original untouched feel
00:28:30this was always a studio apartment
00:28:32just with a separate kitchen
00:28:34the only change that we made to the floor plan
00:28:36was to remove the walls that encapsulated the kitchen
00:28:39to make a larger open space
00:28:45when you enter the apartment
00:28:47you're immediately hit with a really lovely warm and honeyed light
00:28:50bouncing off the timber and the cork flooring
00:28:53and the warm colours within the apartment
00:28:57there are concealed cupboards for umbrellas, bags, shoes
00:29:03there is a folding wall seat that makes use of the space that is otherwise void
00:29:08and there are some playful mid-century style wall hooks above the folding wall seat
00:29:15very common in 1950s through 1980s was cork flooring
00:29:19and cork is a very sustainable material
00:29:21and it's great for acoustics
00:29:22so we've opted to use cork in this apartment
00:29:25in the living room
00:29:26the function wall consists of a built-in sofa
00:29:31underneath the sofa are some drawers with mirrored fronts
00:29:33so they look almost like they're not there
00:29:35and the sofa is lighter
00:29:38and over the top of the sofa is a built-in Queen Murphy bed
00:29:42when the bed is pulled down it rests on the ottoman of the sofa
00:29:48for one occupant there is a fold-down bedside
00:29:53and for the other there is a built-in and recessed storage niche
00:29:58conveniently the wardrobe is one and a half times a conventional depth
00:30:02because it marries with the front face of the sofa
00:30:05and that means that we can hang clothes all the way along the front
00:30:07and then have folded storage all the way down the back
00:30:13the mustard of the wardrobe matches really nicely with the mustard on the pendant lamp
00:30:18the handles for the wardrobe
00:30:20and the handles for the fold-down bed
00:30:22are all custom-made in the same timber as the kitchen joinery
00:30:26directly opposite the sofa is a mix of open shelving for books
00:30:30and concealed storage that makes use of the double depth island
00:30:33they had no need for a television
00:30:35the clients had a direct liking for teak
00:30:38and we have used the Australian grown equivalent which is Tasmanian blackwood
00:30:43a breakfast bar divides the kitchen from the living space
00:30:47and features a dining area for two people
00:30:50the breakfast bar is supported by a bespoke raw brass leg
00:30:55the laminate bench top adhered to plywood is in direct reference to mid-century style
00:30:59when laminate bench tops were very common and they often featured a timber edge
00:31:05the mirrored niche is a play on the old mid-century room dividers
00:31:08and the mirrors really bounce that light around and bring that sense of space to the kitchen
00:31:15the tambour door unit is great because when the kitchen is in use
00:31:18you simply slide the door up and you have all of those things at hand
00:31:22there's bulk overhead storage over the kitchen
00:31:25the brown tiles used throughout the kitchen and the bathroom
00:31:29are direct reference to the tiles that were here prior to the removal of the old fit-out
00:31:34there's a series of small sconces fitted to the ceiling and to the walls
00:31:38that is a 1970s design
00:31:41the timber surfaces wrap from the kitchen around the bathroom
00:31:46a custom brass reveal lines the bathroom entry threshold
00:31:52the walls are tiled floor to ceiling in a small mosaic that reference the old kitchen tile
00:31:59we used custom terrazzo tiles on the floor
00:32:03brass detailing is consistent in the bathroom
00:32:08the bathroom cabinetry has numerous integrated LED lighting
00:32:15and an intricate handle detail for opening the bathroom cabinet without putting fingerprints on the mirror
00:32:22we've used curves to vary the depth of the bathroom joinery
00:32:26so that when you're using the area above the basin the depth is narrower
00:32:29and then for open shelving the depth is accentuated
00:32:35we've varied the handle detail in the bathroom because it's a different space to the rest
00:32:39and we've opted to use a hole
00:32:44together with my clients we've taken a fairly restorative approach to the renovation of this apartment
00:32:49it hadn't been touched in 50 years but with this renovation we've ensured comfortable occupation for the next 50 years
00:32:57it's been upgraded with modern technology and new services
00:33:01we've used custom furniture and overlapping functions to achieve a really tailored space
00:33:07we've basically given this apartment a second lease on life
00:33:25it's built in the 60s it consists of eight studio units
00:33:30the apartment is about 29 square meters
00:33:33when we found this place it was an old studio unit
00:33:36the bed was in the living area
00:33:39we saw the potential to change it
00:33:42the first thing was to remove the kitchen out and turn it into a proper one bedroom
00:33:48when we worked on this project I wanted to try out a few ideas of our own
00:33:53so the idea was to create a hotel home hybrid to this space
00:33:57we were inspired by Japan and Scandinavia as well
00:34:01we also wanted to create a minimal, clean, luxe interior to this space
00:34:07I wanted to create a warm ambience to the space
00:34:10so naturally I decided to use timber for the floors, plywood for the walls and plywood for the ceiling
00:34:16this creates a feeling of that you're in a cabin space
00:34:20you just feel... you just feel relaxed when you come in
00:34:25for the kitchen we decided to contrast the birch plywood with black metal countertops
00:34:32with perforated screens
00:34:34the reason why we use perforated screens is to ensure that
00:34:37if you have a gas or if you're using the space
00:34:40you ultimately can see what's behind the screens
00:34:44what we've placed in here is actually the fridge
00:34:48of course you have the drawers for the cutlery
00:34:51storage for the plates, the kettle, the toasters as well
00:34:54we also managed to put in a washer dryer into the space
00:34:57I would call it the services corner
00:35:01in this space we need to create a statement piece as well
00:35:04so we decided to create a custom made light for the kitchen
00:35:09so the light actually washes the space and it creates a cosy feel to it
00:35:13because this space is compact at 29 square metres
00:35:16we need to find space to store all our things
00:35:19so the idea was to create a wall of joinery to hide all our items behind it
00:35:26so we managed to put in a laundry
00:35:30we have pantry and we managed to put in the microwaves
00:35:35we made a conscious effort to make sure that the doors are hidden
00:35:39so it's a push open system to minimise the visual clutter to the space
00:35:44we tried to tie in the overall look with the kitchen
00:35:48so we also have a hidden perforated sliding door
00:35:52that separates the bedroom from the living room
00:35:54we wanted the door first to act as a visual privacy to the users
00:35:58but also actually allows light to the space
00:36:02and also allows a cross-ventilation across the room
00:36:05for this tiny compact space as well
00:36:08for the bedrooms we decided to raise the floor to house the services from the kitchen
00:36:14and we also decided to put the bed on the plane
00:36:17just to create a seamless transition of the space to make it feel bigger
00:36:21and to reinforce the feeling that you know here in Japan
00:36:25the beds are on the tatami mat
00:36:26but on here it's resting on the plane
00:36:30we decided to integrate the wardrobe and the shelving space above the bed
00:36:35to maximise the space usage
00:36:39for the ensuite we wanted to make it feel special
00:36:42make it feel luxurious
00:36:43so the idea of using black metal with white tiles
00:36:48actually reinforced a clean, simple, luxe feel to it
00:36:52we wanted to create a generous ensuite space
00:36:55and the way to enforce it was to use degraded tiles
00:36:59from floor to ceiling
00:37:01it gives you a perception of that the space is almost infinite
00:37:05we decided to use black metal and a black pole with a mirror to the ensuite
00:37:10it gives it a visual focus to the space
00:37:13it also ties in with the kitchen
00:37:16the colour palette that we choose for this space is pretty simple
00:37:19it's just perch plywood, black metal and white tiles
00:37:23and you find that it's just consistent throughout the space
00:37:26I wanted to try and make a compact space work
00:37:30by showing people that you don't need such a big space to live
00:37:33most people will think that 29 square metres maybe is more suited for maybe a single person
00:37:39but when I live in with my wife
00:37:41we are quite happy
00:37:46never too small magazine issue one
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00:37:52all with you city dwellers in mind
00:37:55step into the world of Atoma
00:37:56where romanticism, artisanal craftsmanship and Italian flair
00:38:00are distilled into jewel box like apartments
00:38:03visit the studio of Ramesh Mario Nithyendran
00:38:06where Barbie, big cats and Buddhas inspire his colourful creations
00:38:10explore three of our favourite small footprint homes from around the world
00:38:13each featuring nifty pullout floor plans
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00:38:20interrogate the origins and appeal of a slouchy 70s icon
00:38:23and meet our mate, Robbie Neville
00:38:25who wants us to get better at making shit with the shit we already have
00:38:28find out why the Barbican is London's greatest mistake
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00:39:09TARA is a building that was completed in 1920
00:39:13in the Art Deco style
00:39:15this apartment is located in Elizabeth Bay
00:39:18which is in very close proximity to the city
00:39:20and on the doorstep of this apartment is wonderful amenity
00:39:23restaurants, cafes, everything that you could want
00:39:25our client for this project was very much inspired by a trip to New York
00:39:30and a visit to a renowned compact apartment in New York
00:39:35this apartment is a 30 square metre space
00:39:37there's 25 square metres in the studio space
00:39:40and then a further four and a half or five in the bathroom
00:39:45the layout exists primarily as it was
00:39:51the client was very inspired by minimalist interior design
00:39:55and really wanted a very clean and crisp
00:39:58and contemporary product for the design of his space
00:40:02it was very important to work with the existing structure
00:40:05so there are a lot of columns present within the space
00:40:08some of them are housed within the joinery and some of them are left expressed
00:40:12our idea was to shift the bulk of the apartment to the perimeter walls
00:40:16or to the outside walls
00:40:17to create a really large open and fluid space through the middle of the apartment
00:40:21we embraced I guess the idea of studio living
00:40:25rather than create unnecessary or deliberate delineation or zoning within the space
00:40:31running along one length of wall beyond the kitchen is a function wall
00:40:35and it contains a four seat sofa and that has a pull out chaise
00:40:40there is storage underneath and the bed is quite unique in that it folds down over the sofa
00:40:45when it comes time for sleeping
00:40:50the function wall wraps almost the couch and the bed to make full use of the height
00:40:55and ensure that no space was left unused for storage where possible
00:40:58one of the advantages of having the bed fold away
00:41:01is that it means we have a very large open and fluid space
00:41:04which means that people can congregate in this space
00:41:07which is hard in a studio environment
00:41:09it was paramount for the client to be able to accommodate up to six guests
00:41:13so we have a table that expands from being perfect for four people
00:41:17all the way through to six or even eight guests
00:41:22the track lighting on the ceiling creates a very flexible lighting solution
00:41:26the client can move the lights along and rotate them
00:41:30for instance if they wanted to highlight a piece of art
00:41:34for the design of the function wall we wanted something very robust
00:41:37which is why we decided to clad it entirely in metal
00:41:40it's a very very contemporary look and feel
00:41:42it feels very sharp, very bespoke and very unique
00:41:47there's a full height column like structure that divides the kitchen from the bathroom
00:41:54we've used a very strong white bench top
00:41:57because it's located at the base of the singular window to the studio
00:42:00what that does is help to flood the space with light
00:42:03and the bench top and splash back reads a little bit like a giant lantern
00:42:06it has a glow
00:42:09we've employed a number of compact appliances
00:42:12and everything in the kitchen is concealed
00:42:14there's a washer dryer combination
00:42:16so there's a pull out dishwasher
00:42:18there's a microwave
00:42:19but also a very generous sized fridge
00:42:23we decided to use frosted glass for the bathroom door
00:42:26as a mechanism or tool to be able to borrow light
00:42:29from the window in the bathroom and bring more light into the studio
00:42:32and what's really beautiful about the glass is that at night when the lights are on in the bathroom
00:42:36it helps to illuminate the space almost like a giant lamp
00:42:40all of the surfaces in the bathroom are finished in the same tile
00:42:44creates a very unique geometric pattern
00:42:46and helps to make the bathroom feel much larger than it in fact is
00:42:50there's a concealed strip light inside the shower to create a really nice ambience when showering
00:42:55and there's also a full height mirror directly opposite the window to again enhance the sense of space in the
00:43:01bathroom
00:43:03the apartment overall presents as a very simple solution
00:43:07but it's in fact there's a great deal of consideration goes into getting all of the details right
00:43:12the way that the blind rolls down just behind the tap
00:43:16right down to the small details like the push touch doors in the kitchen
00:43:21or the concealed finger pull handles
00:43:24good design for urban living in a context such as this is very important because
00:43:29this makes use of a tired and drab space
00:43:33and it's very important to be able to make use of existing building stock and improve upon that
00:43:36so that people are very comfortable living in our cities
00:43:44I think good design can have a really positive impact on people's lives
00:43:49particularly in small spaces
00:43:52good design is absolutely imperative
00:43:55in order to get the most out of a space
00:43:57and to really feel comfortable in a space
00:44:03this building is called Ballina
00:44:05it's an art deco building
00:44:08very close to the city of Sydney
00:44:10this apartment was always a pied-à-terre for some clients of ours
00:44:24they wanted for it to continue to be a pied-à-terre but to be able to rent it out
00:44:30for sure
00:44:30for a short-term rental when they weren't here
00:44:35this apartment is 22 square metres
00:44:37it's really tiny
00:44:38so what was really important to us was to make it feel bigger
00:44:42and make the stay really special and feel like you were actually at home
00:44:49when we first came to visit it the layout was completely different
00:44:53it was really important for us to retain all the original features of the apartment
00:44:58but try and make it a little bit more workable
00:45:00we reduced the size of the bathroom
00:45:04so that we could sneak a little kitchen into the entry area
00:45:07and that way the kitchen would be away from the sleeping area and tucked away
00:45:13the kitchen was positioned at the front door
00:45:16and it was designed as a black element that would almost disappear as you entered
00:45:24even though it's not very wide the bench is quite deep
00:45:28quite useful
00:45:32we were really confined by that dividing wall and this archway
00:45:38and we really wanted to maintain all of those original features
00:45:42so we looked at quite a few layouts and it made the most sense to actually have the bed in
00:45:47the middle
00:45:48creating a sense of symmetry and having equal importance to both sides
00:45:53so when there's two people staying here they both have the same thing
00:46:01the wall along where the windows are actually had quite a few pipes and conduits
00:46:07so we built it out slightly to make it all even and then ended up with these lovely deep recesses
00:46:16we thought a lot about the best location to put a sofa and we thought it was really important to
00:46:21be able to sit back and look out of the windows
00:46:26previously because the kitchen was up against the windows you couldn't really sit anywhere and enjoy it
00:46:32by having this joinery piece here you separate the sleeping zone from the living space and you just see over
00:46:39the top of the bed and you can enjoy the view from the windows
00:46:45by elevating the bed platform we could separate the living area from the sleeping area it also meant that we
00:46:52could raise the floor to the bathroom so all the plumbing could be reworked without causing any inconvenience to any
00:46:59of the apartments below
00:47:05so we wanted the bathroom to be a really lovely experience we thought it would be lovely to have a
00:47:12timber battened floor all the way through the bathroom
00:47:15we copied that onto the ceiling and it gives you this beautiful smell like a sauna
00:47:24good design will always take into account natural light the idea with the mirror was that it creates a sense
00:47:30of depth
00:47:32lying in bed you still get a reflection of the beautiful view
00:47:40even though the apartment is so small there's a place for everything
00:47:45little details that you might not necessarily think about in a big house
00:47:49a really important here like the fold-out ironing board
00:47:53everything has a place
00:47:57we have a lot of wall hung floating units so that you still get a sense of the whole footprint
00:48:02of the rooms and give you a sense of more space
00:48:08we've got hidden lighting under the cabinets and above to create atmosphere
00:48:16we really loved the original art deco detail of the apartment and so everything that's new has also been given
00:48:22the same amount of attention to detail
00:48:33in a building like this the details actually add to the character and to the story of the apartment
00:48:58when you see the building on the street it's pretty uninspiring block of flats
00:49:05when you see the building on the street it's pretty uninspiring block of flats
00:49:12for other people to enjoy and to bring delight
00:49:16so this place it was a studio apartment one room as you can see the bare bones of it and
00:49:22the potential I think was there
00:49:24bad kitchen with like an L-shaped thing with you know laminate worktop horrible bathroom
00:49:30it was just a bit grim and you sort of felt a bit sad coming in here
00:49:36when people first walk in they're a little bit you know gobsmacked
00:49:40the preconception maybe with small space living is that it's this sort of you know living in a shoebox
00:49:45and actually it's about how it connects to its locality what's that relationship
00:49:49you're not necessarily mean you have to compromise your living you can still have your own personality
00:49:54to be a little bit more experimental and live as you want to live is just thinking a little bit
00:49:58differently
00:49:59the first one as you come in is this raised plinth so that's actually a built up off the floor
00:50:04coming from England I've always had a thing about having baths
00:50:06so wherever I can I try and squeeze a bath in
00:50:09I think there's something very relaxing about bathing and relaxation
00:50:14also really like the idea of taking the bath out of the bathroom
00:50:18and putting it into another space so you can be in the bath you know soaking and relaxing
00:50:23whilst looking out the window or you know having a glass of wine isn't that fantastic
00:50:27and then the idea with the kitchen is it's not a kitchen it's basically a steel box that kind of
00:50:32sits on the marble podium
00:50:36using objects or elements that have multi-uses is kind of a really nice way to have dynamic things happening
00:50:41in small spaces
00:50:42the bed in a gold box so the idea is when it's up you know we can hang out here
00:50:48it can be a dance floor it can be a studio to work in
00:50:51and then this thing can fold down so we're sort of animating the space here
00:50:56you know the idea that the door is also sort of a mirror
00:50:58sort of a gold sheen so it has that really nice warmth to it
00:51:02as it slides sort of I guess captures different views of the other of the opposite wall
00:51:07and then the other one is this big steel pivot door so that in the summer can be open getting
00:51:12some fresh air in
00:51:13you know lighting can really kind of affect the mood and the ambience of the space
00:51:19and so yeah they create I guess little pockets the bathroom has its own light
00:51:22the bath has one that's on a dimmer so it just softens it you know
00:51:27so I would sort of pick out certain things and certain ambiences and have a variety of lighting
00:51:32rather than like light the whole thing up with some sort of Batman cave
00:51:36the ceiling kind of painted it with this dark colour to try and make it feel more intimate and cosy
00:51:41which then sort of graduates down to the ground so it sort of hugs you a bit
00:51:45buildings are you know made of steel and bricks and structural things
00:51:49and so sometimes it's about taking things off to reveal
00:51:52that also really nice idea of you know discovery or you know a little bit of a homage to the
00:51:58building itself
00:51:59I don't think this would be something that would work everywhere
00:52:02it's just I guess about where it is and the nature of what it was I think yeah
00:52:13The idea of rationalising everything into one joinery unit is a very reductive approach
00:52:19whereby we can shift everything to the boundary and create an open fluid space
00:52:25The very simple material composition and detailing is related to my clients interest in a German designer called Nils Holger
00:52:33-Mormann
00:52:33where laminated plywood laminate in various shades are detailed in such a way that gives a very minimal aesthetic
00:52:47This apartment is located in Rushcutters Bay in Sydney
00:52:52Rushcutters Bay is right on the doorstep of Sydney City
00:52:55It's a really special neighbourhood in that it's entirely walkable
00:53:00This building was built in the mid-1960s
00:53:05The apartment is a total of 27 square metres
00:53:11Our client was most inspired by a previous project of ours called Tara
00:53:16The client also had a very distinct idea of how that design could be adapted for this space and for
00:53:21his needs
00:53:24The original condition was very simple and a little bit tired
00:53:28The only change that we made to the layout was to remove the original built-in cupboard that divided the
00:53:34entry door from the kitchen
00:53:35The primary objective for this apartment was to conceal everything in a single unit
00:53:42The new joinery insertion is arranged from kitchen through to general storage
00:53:46a place to work, a place to sleep, which is overlapped by the television
00:53:57Upon entry you are immediately into the studio space
00:54:00with the bathroom being a separate compartment to your right
00:54:02The living and dining is an open plan space
00:54:05that feeds from the kitchen through towards the balcony
00:54:09When my client moved from Germany to Sydney
00:54:11he brought with him a dining table, a sofa, stools and dining chairs
00:54:16The living room is defined by a simple sofa that faces the television
00:54:21Once we had accounted for all of the functional requirements
00:54:24there was no obvious space left for a television
00:54:27So we conceived of a sliding panel that would conceal firstly the Murphy bed
00:54:31and secondly the office space
00:54:34The handle for the Murphy bed is accessed by lifting up the fronts of the cabinets overhead
00:54:39and the cabinet fronts fall naturally back into position
00:54:44The client who works entirely from home needed a substantial workspace
00:54:49Concealed behind the sliding door is a niche containing a work from home office
00:54:55The depth of the desk is greater than the depth of the bed
00:54:57so it is required that it is a folding element
00:55:01Next to the workspace a secondary smaller work surface conceals the cable management system
00:55:07A banner of overhead storage runs from the end of the pod at the Murphy bed
00:55:12all the way through to the overheads of the kitchen
00:55:15A sizeable two door wardrobe divides the kitchen from the office space
00:55:23A combination sheer curtain and block out curtain add a really warm and soft ambience to the space
00:55:29The sheer curtain allows my client to filter light during the day
00:55:33and the block out curtain is activated at sleeping
00:55:36and when my client wants that truly cinematic experience
00:55:43The kitchen is a direct response to the functional requirements of my client
00:55:48It's L-shaped and makes best use of where the existing services work
00:55:54but also the need to integrate new and modern appliances
00:55:58The kitchen contains a full size flip down dishwasher, an oven and induction cooktop
00:56:04There is a concealed service cupboard for a hot water unit and for a meter
00:56:10And we have a sink with concealed bin storage
00:56:14And there's also a full size integrated fridge
00:56:17Integrated LED lighting is fitted underneath the overhead cabinets in the kitchen
00:56:21For an apartment of this size there is really ample clean work surface in the kitchen
00:56:29Underneath the service cupboard is a slender cabinet access from the kitchen side
00:56:33For things like vacuum, yoga mat, backpacks
00:56:37There's a neat scallop detail at the base of that cabinet
00:56:40Which means that we can run cable for power to the table for a desk lamp or a laptop
00:56:49A glass door divides the studio space from the bathroom
00:56:53And allows natural light to permeate through the bathroom window and into the studio
00:57:00The bathroom is a very challenging space because it's very small at only two and a half square metres
00:57:06The shower exists in a very small alcove
00:57:10So we employed a three panel folding shower screen system
00:57:14And when the panels are opened it means that the shower is a much larger compartment
00:57:24The vanity is a wall mounted and floating unit
00:57:26And adjacent to that is the bathroom cabinet
00:57:29The mirror is fitted to the back of the door
00:57:32So that the mirror is visible when the client is using the contents of the cabinet
00:57:37All of the walls are finished in micro cement
00:57:40There is a simple wall mounted light fixture directly above the basin
00:57:44And then a secondary tube light that emits a very bright light for showering
00:57:52To rework an apartment such as this is to elevate the internal spaces
00:57:57To match that of the architectural intent of the original building
00:58:01It then means that we can use outcomes such as this as a case study
00:58:05Not only for other people in the building but also for future development
00:58:14I live here with my partner and my medium sized dog
00:58:21It's a 24 square metre apartment
00:58:23And we seem to get along fine
00:58:32My name is Nick Agis and I'm an architect and an educator
00:58:39Kyra Apartments, it's an art deco building completed in 1936
00:58:44Designed by Best Overend
00:58:46It's a good example of an art deco building in Melbourne
00:58:51It has a lot of kind of hallmarks of the era
00:58:54With details of ocean liners and ships
00:58:58One of the big design strategies I employed in here
00:59:02Was to move the bedroom out of this main space
00:59:05Into where the existing kitchen used to be
00:59:08I was interested in creating a suite of different spaces
00:59:13Rather than completely clearing out walls and doors
00:59:17And turning it into one big space in a smaller footprint
00:59:20Which seems sort of paradoxical to what you would want to do
00:59:24To create a spacious apartment
00:59:25But it seemed to make sense here
00:59:29And to draw focus on the existing details of the building
00:59:32Which I thought were really special
00:59:34I didn't want my design to compete or overtake with those
00:59:37More I wanted it to complement them
00:59:41The kitchens are sort of merging between the toolbox and the cabinetry bench
00:59:45And then it sort of unfolds and opens up
00:59:48And everything has its place
00:59:57The aesthetic and the way the kitchen is put together
00:59:59Is to have a very simple kind of almost farm-like structural system
01:00:05That runs through it
01:00:09The materials of the kitchen driven by wanting things to be able to age
01:00:14And patina and develop a characteristic through use
01:00:25So when the kitchen is closed
01:00:27The space out here completely transforms into a sort of really nice quiet space
01:00:34Things in an apartment tend to be a bit more hybridised
01:00:37A door is also a bookshelf and a pantry
01:00:42And that allowed me to close the bedroom off and have a separate space
01:00:48I didn't want to ruin the cross-ventilation and the sort of light penetration that existed already in this apartment
01:00:54So parts of the design allow for air flow and light penetration through those spaces
01:01:01These apartments have quite generous ceiling heights
01:01:05So there's a crawl space underneath the bed
01:01:07There's room for a washing machine
01:01:09And there's a little sort of ladder which stores our shoes
01:01:13The apartment faces north so I get a lot of fantastic light without having to rely on too much artificial
01:01:20lighting during the day
01:01:22All of my light fittings, they're hidden away in the joinery and they up light the roof so the light
01:01:28gets a really beautiful wash
01:01:30The original design of the bathroom also included a dressing room
01:01:35So it's sort of a 19th century detail where there's a dressing room with a wash basin in there
01:01:43One thing about a small apartment as well I think was that I used to help me was to limit
01:01:49the materials that you have
01:01:51I try to keep a continuity of materials throughout the whole apartment
01:01:56The floor is the same in the bathroom as it is in the kitchen as it is in the bedroom
01:02:01And limiting those materials just means there's sort of less clutter in terms of transitions in between different rooms
01:02:15The key idea for this apartment was to combine the sleeping areas
01:02:20Part of the kitchen
01:02:22And the storage areas
01:02:24Into one central unit
01:02:27And the unit itself is inspired by the age old Japanese Tansu chests
01:02:44This apartment building is located in Sydney in a small suburb called Elizabeth Bay
01:02:50Which is in very close proximity to the Sydney CBD
01:02:55This building was built in 1970
01:02:58All four sides of the apartment block are open
01:03:01And each unit benefit from having a balcony
01:03:04And gain cross ventilation from its proximity to the harbour
01:03:08And there's a beautiful park right on the doorstep of the building
01:03:15The original condition of the apartment was quite tired
01:03:18There was a makeshift kitchen in the studio space
01:03:22And a bedroom had been inserted where the kitchen once was
01:03:28The common theory here would be that we shift all of the utility to the perimeter
01:03:32And we're left with a fluid space in the middle and that gives us a sense of space
01:03:36So what we decided to do was remove the party wall that divided the kitchen from the studio space
01:03:41And create an open plan
01:03:43Although it seems a somewhat ironic solution
01:03:46We conceived of a double sided storage unit
01:03:49And we were inspired for the storage unit by the age old Japanese Tansu chests
01:03:54And this storage unit would in a sense dictate how the apartment could be used and manipulated for everyday use
01:04:07The living space is a multi-function space
01:04:10It doubles as the bedroom at night
01:04:12And it's a space to sit down, relax, benefit from the view
01:04:16And be separate to the utility spaces
01:04:20The built-in bench seat has a considerable amount of storage
01:04:24But we wanted to give this element a sense of lightness
01:04:26On three sides it has a reflective surface
01:04:28And there is a continuation therefore of the floor running through
01:04:31And it appears as though it is a floating element rather than a bulky element
01:04:36There's a small surface to one side of the bench seat
01:04:39Which allows the occupant to come in and place items that they may have at hand directly on the bench
01:04:47The pod is deliberately separate from the structure
01:04:51We wanted it to feel more like a piece of furniture
01:04:54And for that reason it doesn't extend all the way to the ceiling
01:04:58There's a distorted mirror to provide reflection immediately upon entry
01:05:02And what that does is it reduces the visual bulk of the pod
01:05:05And reflects the other part of the living room
01:05:07And immediately gives you a greater impression of space than you would have if it was a solid element
01:05:18The elevation of the storage unit that faces the living space
01:05:22Houses a queen folding bed
01:05:26And an integrated storage niche behind the bed
01:05:29Television and AV cupboard
01:05:32And there is also a folding bedside for use
01:05:37The storage pod contains integrated lighting
01:05:40There is an integrated light behind the bed
01:05:42There is illumination on top of the pod
01:05:44That provides a soft bounce light
01:05:47And there is integrated light in the art niche
01:05:51At the ends of the pod
01:05:53There are matching folded integrated tables
01:05:56What this enables us to do is
01:05:58Exploit the space that is otherwise left void
01:06:01Simply for circulation
01:06:04We've imagined one as a dining surface
01:06:06And one as a work surface
01:06:07The dining surface is linked to the kitchen
01:06:11And the work surface is by the window
01:06:21We have split the kitchen into two sides
01:06:23One is the primary kitchen for cooking and for washing
01:06:27And on the other side the kitchen has bled into the storage pod
01:06:31Where we have the pantry, the bulk of the storage
01:06:33And the integrated refrigerator
01:06:38The client was very particular about how
01:06:41How he wanted the kitchen arranged
01:06:43For instance he's put the oven very very low
01:06:45Because he doesn't prioritise cooking with the oven
01:06:48Instead he prioritises cooking on the bench top surface
01:06:51And he prioritises having all of the things that he needs while he's cooking
01:06:55At hand and higher to the bench top
01:07:02At the far end of the pod
01:07:04We exploit the hallway
01:07:05And it's imagined almost like a walk-in robe
01:07:08The robe is positioned directly opposite the bathroom
01:07:10So we've linked those two pieces of utility
01:07:17The bathroom is accessed via a sliding door
01:07:19So that we don't inhibit the space upon accessing the bathroom
01:07:23The client had a preference for a black geometric tile in the bathroom
01:07:27But we've paired that with areas of blank white wall
01:07:29So that the black wasn't over-dominant in the space
01:07:33The three-quarter height blade wall doesn't make the shower feel hemmed in
01:07:36Because it's quite a small shower
01:07:40The joinery in it is shaped or angled
01:07:43To allow greater circulation within the space
01:07:46Because the cabinet is cut on an angle
01:07:48We've decided to have the mirror on the back of the cabinet
01:07:51So that when you open the cabinet all of your stuff is accessible
01:07:54And the mirror faces the user
01:07:59There's a full height and full width mirror at one end of the shower
01:08:03It reflects the length of the bathroom across its longest axis
01:08:06And really gives us a really nice sense of space
01:08:11One of the key advantages of the central pod
01:08:14Is that the walls are blank space
01:08:17And this allows the client to put their touches on the place
01:08:20Be it art, decoration, etc.
01:08:25We employ an experimental approach
01:08:28That attempts to exceed the expectations of our clients
01:08:33And create dynamism in small spaces
01:08:36And improve ultimately the liveability of small spaces
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