Floating box

The project was designed as a floating residence for clients who desired a compact, functional, and contemporary living environment on Lake Union in Seattle. The proposal draws from Seattle’s tradition of floating homes, reimagined through a modern lens that emphasizes efficiency, light, and a strong connection to the water.

 

Design Philosophy

The design is firmly rooted in the cultural and physical context of Seattle’s floating communities. It balances innovation with tradition, embodying the adaptability required for life on the water. The project celebrates the city’s history of alternative housing while embracing modern design principles.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The boat is organized over two primary decks, with open-plan living spaces oriented toward large, glazed openings. The relationship between interior and exterior spaces was a guiding principle, ensuring constant connection to the water and views beyond.

The lower deck accommodates bedrooms and private areas, while the upper deck features a light-filled living room, kitchen, and dining space. An exterior stair leads to a rooftop deck, maximizing outdoor living and providing panoramic views across Lake Union. The layout balances compactness with openness, using efficient planning strategies to ensure comfort within a small footprint.

 

 

Material Palette

The material strategy combines marine-grade steel, durable cladding, and warm timber finishes. Steel construction ensures longevity in the marine environment, while wood elements provide domestic warmth. Large windows and skylights maximize natural light, emphasizing transparency and reflection.

 

Multiplying space

“Humans are endowed with great versatility as a species, because we are adaptable to any kind of space.”

 

Design Philosophy

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.

 

 

Interior Layout

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.

 

 

Custom Structures

This strategy was helpful but still inadequate, therefore we suggested multifunctional configurations: our design approach integrates different uses. For example, we combined the open kitchen with a rotating dining table: Besides working as a unit, they may function individually, to accommodate separate needs. So does the wall, that provides mobile storage to meet with the owner’s temporary usage needs.

 

Room on the Roof

The project features a remarkable transformation of an overlooked architectural curiosity into a sanctuary of creativity, where artists can retreat, reflect, and produce work inspired by the ever-changing cityscape beyond.

 

Existing Structure

De Bijenkorf, the oldest luxury department store in the Netherlands, is a landmark of elegance and history. Its monumental building in the heart of Amsterdam features a small, enigmatic tower on the roof -an architectural detail whose original purpose remained a mystery for years. Unused and overlooked, the space held untapped potential. Seeking to transform this hidden gem, De Bijenkorf commissioned the creation of a unique artist-in-residence studio- an inspiring retreat designed to nurture creativity in all its forms.

 

 

Design Philosophy

The result is a space where poets, painters, writers, filmmakers, choreographers, musicians, and theatre makers alike can immerse themselves in their craft, surrounded by an atmosphere that encourages inspiration and exploration. To preserve the charm of the original architecture, the historic spiraling staircase leading to the tower was carefully restored. More than just a functional element, this staircase serves as a symbolic passage- an invitation for artists to ascend, both physically and creatively, and discover new perspectives from above.

 

 

Functional Layout

The design harmoniously blends two distinct worlds within a single space, centering around the breathtaking panoramic view from the tower. One half of the room is a blank canvas- pure and open, providing space for dreams, ideas, and artistic expression. The other half is a meticulously crafted wooden structure, functioning as a ‘cabinet’ that contains all the essentials for a comfortable stay. Within its compact yet cleverly designed form, artists find a pantry, storage, a desk, and a bed, all integrated seamlessly into the space. Small ladders connect these various levels, each offering a fresh vantage point from which to observe the world outside. By playing with scale and perception, the design evokes a whimsical, almost surreal atmosphere -an “Alice in Wonderland” effect that enhances the sense of wonder and discovery.

 

Multidimensional texture

A ground-floor restaurant in the historic center of Thessaloniki is repurposed into a short-term rental residence.

 

Design Philosophy

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.

 

Interior Layout

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.

 

Material Palette

The combination of different materials brought a strong personality and playful character to the space. Elements such as marble, unique textures, and metal details were blended with transparent materials like glass bricks, offering multi-dimensional textures and vibrant colors. The result is a dynamic and original space that provides visitors with a unique aesthetic experience and distinctive atmosphere.

Carved out space

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.

 

Existing Condition

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.

 

 

Spatial Layout

The new inhabitants are a communication expert and digital strategist, while the partner is a curator of photography festivals. Hence, they needed ample space to store books, catalogs, and artworks, as well as a place to host friends and work. Considering the existing structure and the clients’ needs, a portion of the attic and partitions opposite the windows facing the square are preserved. Consequently, this “private” part is used for the bedroom, pantry and bathroom.

The entry corridor leads to the large living area, creating a perspective that, through the dining area, directs the visitor’s gaze toward the impressive window that frames the dome of the Church of San Giorgio. The living area at the end of the corridor is spacious and very bright, while the kitchen, complemented by a generous dining area, also serves as a workspace. A wall library, designed with floor-to-ceiling uprights that rhythmically divide the entire wall, houses the kitchen in its lower part. An aluminum track ladder allows access to the higher shelves and facilitates routine window maintenance.

 

 

Custom Structures

The side of the living area through which you enter is defined by a custom-made, multifaceted piece of furniture. This spatial device serves as a staircase to the mezzanine and integrates storage units for the bedroom, an opaline glass screen that brings more light into the bedroom behind it, and a sofa that extends from the first step of the mezzanine stairs. A light white tubular structure accompanies the ascent to the mezzanine, where a desk overlooks the lower living area.

 

 

Material Conservation

The original terrazzo flooring has been retained. Though not particularly ornate, it serves as a testament to the architectural history of the Liguria region. Following the same principle, the decorative stuccoes on the ceiling, dating back to the early 20th century, have also been preserved.

 

Double meaning

The project is a complete renovation of a first floor 25m2 apartment -a tiny flat trying to be bigger than it really is.

 

Project Aim

The proposed scheme has a clear intention: it is seen as a carefully arranged piece of furniture, made from the same material. Everything in this space has a dual function -the corridor is the kitchen; the backsplash is its storage, and the angled mirror is a window to the outside world. In parallel, the intervention happens in both plan and section, since the sleeping area is situated above the kitchen space, taking advantage of the space’s full height.

 

 

Spatial Strategies

The notion of comfort is challenged; elements that are expected to be found in a flat such as a washing machine are omitted to give way to a disproportionately large console in the living space, prioritizing leisure. At the same time, storage space is carefully planned and considered through a meticulous process of archiving, organizing and grouping the resident’s items in an orderly manner -a necessary task within small domestic spaces.

 

 

Lighting and Materials

The material pallet is carefully selected, opting for natural materials such as exposed concrete, small white tiling, stainless steel surfaces and wood for cupboards and furniture. A series of mirrors are situated in specific angles throughout the space in order to bounce off natural light as well as “open up” the small-scale apartment. The project is a study on comfort as well as an exercise that explores the question of what is truly necessary in order to “feel at home”.