Project Overview

A Little Design have renovated a former piano studio in the centre of Taipei into a 17.6 square metre apartment.

Organisation

A Little Design

Project Context

Due to the nature of her work, the client is frequently abroad for long stretches - only returning when work requires, or for holidays - therefore she required a small space, with all the conveniences of the inner city.

Project Innovation

In this design, all functions are adjacent but clearly separated. For example, the stairs not only make the path to the sleeping mezzanine but also increase the accessibility of the cabinets in the wall.

Under the stairs, the higher part contains fridge and cupboard which extend the kitchen cabinets while the lower part provides the storage for the sofa area. The wardrobe demarcates the entryway and sofa area and comprises a space for dressing with the shoe cabinet.

The sofa area behind the wardrobe is a small cosy corner which makes up for the conceit of not having a dedicated living are. The sofa can also be used as a single bed to host a guest, and the deep drawers below complement the storage.

The foldable table which could be adjusted in size provides working or dining function for the sofa area and storage for smaller objects. The rise of the floor which is also a cabinet near the sofa resolves the obliquity of the stairs, and the rise of the bathroom floor after moving the pipe. Then the book shelves, also a side table, make the sofa area a relaxing reading corner.

The beam which goes through the flat becomes the separator of service space and living space, and the room under the beam is converted to wall cabinet and shapes a simple tabletop and drawer for the sleeping area at the end of the stairs.

Design Challenge

Although the client did not require a big flat, the original unit, before this redesign, was too small to fit living space and sufficient storage after placing a queen-size bed. Besides, the bathroom was relatively big compared to the small footprint of the whole space, and the kitchen lacked practicability given it was too small to even have space for a fridge.

Redistributing the space of the original rooms was first step taken in this renovation.

After the position of the kitchen and bathroom were exchanged, the entryway and kitchen merged into a continuous space which increased the openness of the area. The two solid walls of the kitchen provide adequate space for requisite equipment such as washing machine, fridge, and an electric stove, plus, the work surface is increased, thus improving the practicability of the kitchen.

The new location of the bathroom gives the humid space better ventilation and sufficient sunlight, with only a slightly reduced footprint.