10 Picks for Small-Scale Architecture Projects

The editorial team of ek magazine selected ten architectural projects, featured in past print issues as well as the ek website, that showcase exceptional small-scale design.

Designing for a specific client, always entails personalized approaches to functionality and taste. Talking with the owner of this 42m² apartment in Taiwan about his own desires and needs, made us feel that the space available was simply not enough.

To accommodate the program, we made a site-specific classification of activities into “predictable”, “unpredictable” and “adaptable”. An example of space assigned to predictable activities is the kitchen and the dining table, which involve standard functions. Unpredictable activities are structured around leisure, such as watching TV, dining and having a conversation; those always involve active decision-making by the users. Adaptable activities are the most interesting ones, considering their requirements for space: we lie down when sleeping, or sit when working and reading, but stand up when walking. Predicting the positions of a body in such a framework, provided the key to our design.

02. Transforming a Garage into a Micro-Residence | Square Design Interiors

The project aim is to transform a 25m2 garage into a 32m2 micro-residence, expanding the usable space through the new design and creating a quiet, tranquil apartment detached from the chaotic city scenery. The ‘micro-residence’ concept addresses the extensive housing problem many cities face. The rapid growth of short-term rentals makes the need for compact, smart solutions even greater. A major project advantage is its small energy footprint due to its size. This feature follows a global approach to social, economic, and environmental planning that addresses the current housing as well as energy crisis.

03. The Life of Glass | Post-Spectacular Office

ek Issue: 280 | September 2023

Two identical properties were combined to establish an optical store in the suburbs of Thessaloniki. The distinctive green hue that defines the space is inspired by the natural tint of glass, a result of iron oxidation inherent in the material.

The building’s symmetry was preserved and accentuated by emphasizing key structural elements, including the two “eyes” on the façade, the central cross-shaped beams, and the dominant central support. The floor plan was designed around a central feature -a massive block of stacked glass surfaces that anchors the space, serving as both a display and storage area for products. This element acts as the store’s “control center,” organizing its core functions -storage, optical testing, and checkout- while defining a circular flow of movement around it.

04. Tiny Grandeur in Genoa, Italy | llabb

A small apartment situated in the historic center of Genoa, “carves out” space in a section of the grand hall of an ancient palace. The compact solution creatively utilizes every opportunity to accommodate the lives of the young owners, finding ample space in the double-height living area, illuminated by three exuberant windows framing close-up views of the domes of San Giorgio and San Torpete. Custom-designed furniture elements also serve multiple functions, helping to define the living space.

The original hall was divided into two apartments, one of which, covers two-thirds of the original surface. Before the renovation, the space consisted of three rooms with large windows and a blind bathroom, with an internal height of 3.3m. A staircase led to an attic with 1.3m ceiling height. The first design gesture was to completely clear the space, demolishing the attic and internal partitions, thus returning to a full interior height of 4.7m. This also reconnected the double row of three windows, one of which had been walled up, overlooking the ancient market square.

05. Fabrica | Soul Spaces Co

A ground-floor restaurant in the historic center of Thessaloniki is repurposed into a short-term rental residence. The primary goal was to maximize the space’s attractiveness and functionality to appeal to the widest possible range of potential users. The design features a versatile, open-plan layout, ideal for hosting parties and other events. The main focus was the design of the residence’s facade, with particular emphasis on maintaining privacy while ensuring the natural flow of light and air. This was achieved through the use of glass bricks and metal electric frames.

In the bedroom area, sliding metal partitions with glass were employed to define the individual spaces, allowing natural light to penetrate while maintaining flexibility. These materials enable the creation of an adaptable environment that meets users’ needs without compromising brightness or connectivity. Additionally, the use of curtains allows for shading when desired and creates a sense of warmth and intimacy, giving users control over lighting and privacy.

07. Restoration of a Victorian House in London | Neiheiser Argyros

ek Issue: 277 | May 2023

The project involves renovating and extending a Victorian-era house in West London, transforming it with a modern open-plan layout. The design enhances natural light throughout the interior while seamlessly integrating the home with a spacious rear courtyard for improved functionality and flow. The common areas of the two-bedroom home are situated on the raised floor, while the private bedroom spaces are located on the ground floor. Lateral spatial extensions and strategic subdivision allow for an expanded living area, optimizing functionality for a growing family.

The existing rear courtyard is excavated and redesigned with terraces, providing the ground-floor bedrooms with direct access to the newly landscaped garden. Similarly, a small pre-existing balcony is transformed into a spacious loft, seamlessly linking the raised floor to the garden. Ceramic cobbles on the ground and a striking red handrail enhance the natural and visual continuity between the roof, garden, and understated courtyard.

08. Golden Box in Italy | AMAA

The project’s aim is to design a new space of inhabitation situated within an existing apartment that dates back to the early 1900s, acting as a weekend getaway and place of refuge from the bustling city.

Stemming from a reflection on the concept of dwelling, the design abolishes all circulation spaces from the floor plan and creates a single 5x5m volume that hosts all the necessary functions. Liberating the space from existing partitions and restoring the Palladian floor allowed for the insertion of the “golden box”, which contains the kitchen, sleeping area, bathroom and relaxation space. The project draws inspiration from Jean Prouvé, Le Corbusier, and Charlotte Perriand and their work on spaces for small living.

09. Attic Renovation in Amsterdam | Firm Architects

The project showcases a private residence in Amsterdam that maximizes its available floor space. Located in the vibrant De Pijp district, the building’s upper floor was previously an attic, unsuitable for habitation.

In order to transform this space into a livable area, the previous owner raised the roof by approximately fifty centimeters before selling it as a renovation project to the current owner. The roof elevation was achieved by constructing a ring of rough masonry around the original structure and laying largely renewed roof beams on top. This approach -creating a new level on top of an old foundation- became the guiding principle of the design. The space is deliberately “cut through” at a height of 95cm above the floor, establishing a clear visual and material distinction. Above this cross-section, everything is new, featuring smooth, insulated, and rendered walls. Below the line, the original elements are left exposed, preserving their raw, unfinished aesthetic.

10. Apartment Renovation in Barcelona | 08014 arquitectura

The refurbished apartment is located in a former industrial building from the 1950s in the Guinardó neighborhood of Barcelona. Originally designed as a small open-plan workshop, the space’s most compelling feature was its structural framework -concrete frames supporting slabs of concrete joists and ceramic vaults- partially concealed by layers of modifications over time. The renovation began with the removal of these later additions, unveiling the building’s original architectural essence.

The reorganization of the space is defined by two custom-built furniture elements that highlight the existing structural grid, establishing a clear distinction between the original architecture and the new interventions, between the permanent and the ephemeral. These elements structure the interior layout, maintaining a sense of permeability, allowing natural light to reach the deepest areas of the apartment, and integrating essential storage solutions.