00:03It is difficult to date the building, but it is estimated to be construed before the 1800s,
00:11which makes it over 200 years old. We were inspired by the timeless space we can often
00:20find in art galleries, where everything is white but also a bit rough. And also by the
00:29history of the building itself. The uneven walls and the old wooden beams with so much character.
00:41My name is Pierre, I'm an architect and I'm the founder of PS Studio in Paris.
00:57The apartment is located in Rue Saint Denis, in the first arrondissement of Paris. This
01:04is one of the oldest streets of the city. It's considered as the epicenter of Paris.
01:11Maybe the most interesting aspect of this neighbourhood is the blend of historical
01:16and contemporary architecture. The building is mixed-use and has coffee and shops on street
01:25level and offices and apartments on the upper levels. This is the client's first home. They
01:37wanted a functional, clean space using simple raw materials and they were very interested
01:43in the brutalist style.
01:48The original layout of the apartment was very cramped. The spaces were disproportionate and the relation
01:58to the light wasn't optimal. The entrance was too large and too difficult to optimize. The living room was
02:07separated in two parts with a big kitchen counter dividing the space. The bathroom could only be accessed
02:15through the bedroom and there was no laundry in the apartment. After some careful planning, we decided that
02:23the best use of the space would be to place all the technical components in the centre of the apartment.
02:29This will create a loop plan so you can walk through the apartment without ever retracing your step.
02:38This video is sponsored by Bamboo Lab. Our messy office needed a few things to help it get organised.
02:44So we made them ourselves using Bamboo Lab, H2C and Maker World.
02:49Our kitchen was the first order of business. The utensil tray really needed an update.
02:54So we designed our own using Bento 3D. All we had to do was measure our items,
02:59set the size and print. The H2C is able to print large objects so we only needed a few prints
03:06for our drawer.
03:08We also printed a modular wall organiser. We can even add magnets which make them really fun to use.
03:15Now we have a place for our keys and umbrella. In our production room, we printed this colourful
03:21parrot piggy bank. Using H2C's Vortec Hotend change system, we could print it in multiple colours,
03:28with very minimal filament waste. Lastly, we used the laser attachment to make our very own never too small
03:35corp coasters. Buy stains! With tools like Bamboo Lab, making improvements around your home or office
03:42suddenly feel a lot more possible. Curious what else you could make? Check out the link in the description.
03:55Stepping into the apartment, there is a small entrance that is part of the corridor.
04:01There is a cold closet, which keeps the area separate from the main space of the apartment.
04:07On the other side, I added another full-length closet with mirror doors. As this closet sits
04:15at the end of the corridor, the mirror doors help to extend the perspective of the space and bring in
04:22some light. There is a small toilet here. We wanted to keep it quite simple. We integrated the tank behind
04:31the wall and used the niche above to add a small closet. The apartment didn't previously have a laundry
04:39space, so it was one of the main requests for the client during the renovation. We added a powerful
04:45ventilation unit and drying racks. This avoids having a drying rack in the middle of the living room,
04:53which makes it more pleasant on a daily basis. A building bookcase anchors the living space.
05:04Crafted in paint wood, it combines open shelving, closed storage and a TV unit.
05:11It was designed with solid side elements which helped to conceal books and the TV from the entrance
05:17and make it look less cluttered. As this is the largest piece of storage in the apartment,
05:25we wanted the client to be able to use it to store other household items,
05:30so we designed the lower section with closet storage.
05:37The natural palette is intentionally restrained, allowing natural light and carefully chosen objects
05:44to take center stage. To work around the beams, we suspended the curtain rail using thin metal rods.
05:53It's quite an interesting look and has become a design feature in itself.
06:00Even though the apartment is small, I think it's important to have a large sofa where you can relax.
06:06The coffee table is a vintage piece sourced by the client. This table, with its glass top,
06:13makes it possible to have a large table without overwhelming the visual space.
06:20The kitchen is supported by the technical core and faces the living room.
06:26The kitchen itself uses IKEA cabinetry in hallway, with a stainless steel veneer worked up.
06:34It is honest, functional and sharp.
06:39All the appliances are integrated to keep the space feeling clean. There is a fridge, dishwasher and oven
06:47in the lower cabinets. The shape and color of the beams help to create soft, diffuse lighting.
06:58The pendant light above the dining table was salvaged from an office.
07:02We like the industrial look, so we decided to refurbish it and give it a second life.
07:10The chairs are the libellula made by Giovanni Carini in the 70s.
07:17The functions of the bathroom are aligned with the technical core.
07:22When both doors of the corridor are closed, the entire space becomes the bathroom.
07:28We designed the bathroom using standard dimensions of fixture to save on costs where we can.
07:35The basin is prefabricated. We then surrounded the basin with ties,
07:41so that the wall reeds are the single compact block. This way we elevated the standard product.
07:48There was a bit of space in the core, which enabled us to have a deep cupboard.
07:54The mirror cabinets above conceal everything the bathroom needs.
08:00The shower is also sculpted in a monolith of Winkelmann styles.
08:04As the shower is compact, we added small niches for shampoo bottles,
08:08so the client didn't need to have additional items in the shower.
08:12There is a heated towel rail in the niche between the shower and basin.
08:19Using space from the technical core, we were able to create a small closet in the bedroom for clothes.
08:26To help it blend in, we chose to paint in the same color as the wall and not use any
08:32door frames.
08:35We wanted to be able to save floor space, so the bedside tables are attached to the wall.
08:46There is an hidden desk that folds out from the wall storage in one clean motion.
08:52It was intended for using as an office, but it also works as a dressing table.
09:00There are two types of curtains in the bedroom, so that the space can be completely blacked out.
09:07We create a larger walking wardrobe that can also be accessed through a sliding door.
09:14There is an hidden air storage space on each side, which helps to keep the area more organized.
09:23It sits between the bedroom and the entrance corridor and can be accessed from the both sides.
09:32Each small space project and client has its own particularities.
09:37As architects, we have to embrace it and try to find the best equation.
09:42It's always a balance between the brief, the client's own way of living, and the small space potential.
09:48The challenge is to solve this equation while keeping the project ambition, bespoke feeling,
09:54and optimization as high as possible.
09:59For more small home inspiration, check out our magazine.
10:02Now available in digital and print. Visit nevertosmall.com slash magazine.
