Category: Apartment

Apartment in Carcavelos by Hugo Proenca

When size matters, good design takes action. And when it comes to a 65sqm apartment, everything needs a little more attention, in terms of design. The flat is located in Portugal, in Carcavelos an area near Lisbon and the architect Hugo Proenca transformed it into a contemporary and adequate, despite its size, single residential home.

The use of simple lines, the minimal aesthetic and the smart choice of three, basic, design elements, resulted in a bigger looking space without making any functional compromises. A feeling of whole is achieved by removing any useless interior doors, except from those that lead to the bedroom and bathroom. A mirror wall, just opposite the apartment’s entrance maximizes the illusion of space and depth while the need of storage is solved by transforming two of the living room walls into cabinets. I cannot overlook the concept behind that black carpentry. Lacking height (only 2.10m tall) enters the kitchen’s space, intensifying the sense of continuity.

Photography by FG+SG

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Vincent Van Duysen

Vincent Van Duysen is a Belgium architect whose work I’ve been drawn to for quite a while. It was almost too difficult to select only one of his projects to be featured here today and therefore here is a selection of my favorite spaces he designed.

The use of singular element, frequently in a large scale, typically either defines the interiors or directs viewers’ attention to that particular element. I’m a big fan of the beautiful white space, panelled walls and strong geometrical shapes re-appearing in his designs. Hope you enjoy.

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Inhabitat Furniture

This Inhabitated Furniture apartment in Paris, France was designed in 2011 by Nicolas Reymond and it is interesting space to look at here on Minimalissimo. Besides the large volumes, very simple in form, I was attracted to the maximum and innovative use of space developed by Reymond.

The renovation proposes, instead of walls, two large furnitures accessible by each side, to set up the space. These furnitures include and hide storages, kitchen cupboards, dressing, doors and bathrooms. They also separate day from night uses. A fluid and multipurpose space is provided: the entrance space is used alternately as a kitchen or as an office.

The module idea combined in seamless manner with existing historical elements of the apartment is a well-executed solution to the previously problematic layout. The large volumes placed strategically at the core of the apartment, unforcefully indicate the focal space but still give the freedom of interpretation based on occupant’s needs and desires.

I love  the flexibility of use of the space and of course the integration of old and new. I wish my current city San Francisco would start building these!

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A Model

A Model is a scaled-model in life-size proportion that represents a generic contemporary domestic environment. It is not the representation of a project, but the representation is the project. A Model is a collaboration between Rad Louda and W_RKSH_P (Paul Sosson) with the help of Marie-Cecile Guyaux.

Made out of foam, A Model is a representation of a 150 sqft apartment, organized in 4 parts. The minimal and sufficiently furnished apartment provides basic functions with as added value a personal outside space. Each furniture was conceived as an archetype of its function: a chair looks like a chair, a bed like a bed.

A Model is not an utopy nor a distopy, the designers say. It is a proposal for an one bed apartment, designed as generic as possible. It can be a solution towards the current contemporary housing situation in some cities.

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Weissraum Dental Surgery

Oh, dear. The sound of the dreaded drill from a recent dentist visit still lingers. The good news is that dental patients, in München can now reduce physical discomfort from dental procedures and still keep a healthy smile.

Weissraum Dental Surgery, by Stuttgart-based Ippolito Fleitz Group, has been named “Germany’s most beautiful dental practice” for 2010. The design space takes full advantage of the building’s original historic character and architectural features; the stucco ornaments and ceiling heights are superb.

The term ‘weissraum’, which means white space, comes alive through a clean design of white architecture. The walls and ceilings glow in bright white. The white washed oak floor and the purple sofa in the seating area break the monastic whiteness of the space—a relaxed lounge-like, calming atmosphere.

A progressive architectural translation of the term “white space.” I am left wanting more of Ippolito Fleitz Group’s understated goodness.

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Collector’s Loft

Collector’s Loft, designed by Texas-based Poteet Architects, is a haven for minimalist design, contrasting elements, and modern decor. The apartment is commodiously clean and warmly comfortable. The floor-to-ceiling windows extract plenty of light to illuminate the purposefully selected furniture pieces. Recognizable classics by Arne Jacobsen and Saarinen are positioned throughout the rooms to provide both inspiration and aesthetic pleasure.

Interestingly, the home’s major furnishings – which include the sofa, bed, and table – are outfitted with a neutral palette; the paintings, accessories, and even flowers, on the other hand, engender bold colors and serve as accents. Overall, there is a harmonious balance between the objects and the space.

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AZB

AZB, designed by Japan-based GENETO, is a minimalist house with elegant contrasts and unique grooved decor filtering throughout its interior.

Screens and sliding doors are utilized in order to disguise storage and closet space. The interior, as far as minimalist spaces go, is rather distinct in terms of limitations given by its 45m2 floor space.

The artistic panels are designed through a Japanese architectural application called Fusuma. In short, Fusuma describes the approach of embellishing sliding-door room separators with scenes of nature. The user is left with the impression that he/she is encircled by nature. The grooves were inspired by the adjacent mountains and city skylines that surround the building. The crevices subsequently become inconspicuous coat hangers and handles.

Photography by Takumi Ota

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A House

I believe the enticing nature of minimalist interiors lies within the few details that populate its space. The placement of furniture and artwork visually direct the user to specific areas of the architecture.

A-Huset - located in Copenhagen, designed by Holgaard Arkitekter - is a dwelling that focuses its attention on its openness and structure. The house has both a grunge industrial appeal in some areas while conforming to modernist white space in others.

The house was actually reconstructed, and the old façade was given a complete transformation. There are a total of 200 apartments within the building, as well as 10 retail units. The 4000sqm roof is a prime landscape for escape from the daily grind. The rooftop construction includes hills, pastures, and decking overlooking a beautiful view of Copenhagen’s landscape.

Photography by Adam Moerk.

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TecARCHITECTURE HQ

Constraints are good for design. Sustainable minimalism can be another set of constraints. Los Angeles and Switzerland-based tecARCHITECTURE firm, approach their projects with a strong green agenda. They have earned environmentally progressive credentials with their sustainable high-tech architectural practices.

TecARCHITECTURE Headquarter is designed as both a house and office by and for tecARCHITECTURE. It has four levels: an open floor office, on the lowest level, two rental apartments and a house for tecArchitecture COO Heiko Ostmann, on the upper levels. Geothermal energy, solar-powered lighting, a concrete open loft in the lowest level, and floor to ceiling windows with an extravagant view of Lake Constance — One super green package.

Environment and design. Apparently oh-so-difficult contradictions?

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Nacho Polo’s Private House

Nacho Polo has fashioned his own language for starkly white. He’s added a bit of drama to white while respecting its formal purity. He used white to create glowing brightness and accentuate the essence of his Nineteenth Century apartment, next to the Royal Palace Opera in Madrid.

Madrid-born and Miami-based designer and architect Nacho Polo’s apartment retains a classic mood, yet indulges minimalist cleanliness. “I could not live without a notebook with blank pages and a pencil to draw,” he claims. In a sense, he has treated his apartment as a white canvas, dripping sensual accents of black paint and classic elements of crown moldings and carpentry.

His collection of artless white frames is experimental drama. A type of highly colored minimalism?

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