A mini apartment in London offers all the comforts of a spacious apartment in just 18 square meters of living space. Numerous storage space options are available to its new residents - furnishing with built-in cupboards saves space and makes the room appear open and inviting. Especially in large cities, where the demand for housing is increasing, people have to cope with less living space. The architects from Bicbloc took on the challenge of furnishing a small apartment functionally and stylishly at the same time and transformed a narrow house in London into 14 individual one-room apartments. We present you the exciting room concept.
Mini apartment: the conversion of an old Victorian house
The capital London's growing population, coupled with a lack of property, means more and more Londoners are faced with a difficult choice - either leave the city and move to the suburbs, or cope with rising housing costs. This is because strict development regulations were introduced many years ago - due to the regulations, building land in the capital is scarce. Because the land costs so much, the prices of new buildings also rise. There is also the fact that many foreigners invest in houses in London. In the end, fewer remainfree housesthat can be rented. Competition between wealthy Londoners has caused rental prices to rise by 15% in the past three years. A possible solution would be to convert the old Victorian-era houses to accommodate more people.
The owners of a narrow residential building in London had exactly this requirement - it was to be divided into several individual apartments, each with its own bathroom and fully equipped kitchen. The talented architects from Bicbloc were commissioned with the project - they converted the four-story house into a shared apartment with 14 apartments. In addition, tenants have access to a spacious living area on the ground floor, which all residents have to share, and a large garden.
Built-in furniture saves space
Mirror heating – infrared technology in the bathroom
Older homes have their charm, but occasionally it can be a little brittle, especially in bathrooms or toilets. For extra warmth, a comfortable, warm climate and optimal use of space, an infrared mirror heater is the most important element of a redesign. An inexpensive option for such a bathroom
The Bicbloc interior designers decided on built-in furniture right from the start - on the one hand, it offers a space-saving alternative, and on the other hand, the architects were able to develop a flexible built-in system that can be integrated into all available rooms. So time and costs were saved - definitely a strong pro argument given the tight budget. The cubic volume is made up of several units that can be combined with each other and houses everything the tenant needs in his everyday life.
A small kitchen, a wardrobe, a single/double bed, a chest of drawers and an extendable dining table complete the furniture range. Depending on the room conditions, the individual modules are positioned in the room - the architects specifically made sure that there was enough free space for movementall furnitureare easily accessible and that sufficient sunlight can enter the apartment.
The furniture at a glance
The first mini-apartment has a small kitchenette right next to the entrance with a sink, stove, small refrigerator and microwave. When not in use, the fitted kitchen is “hidden” behind wooden doors. An extendable table is positioned directly next to the log kitchen - so it can serve as an additional support surface when cooking. Two people can sit comfortably at the table. The loft bed is located behind the kitchen - a built-in wardrobe with shelves under the bed offers enough storage space for clothes, books and bed linen. The last piece of furniture – the wardrobe – can be found right next to the window.
Another variant of the mini-apartment is located on the top floor - the room with a sloping ceiling was not easy to furnish, but the interior designers modified and adapted the furniture accordingly so that no unit is missing here and everything is conveniently within reach. The bathrooms are also equipped with everything you need - a shower cubicle, a sink and a toilet offer optimal comfort in the limited space.
Visually enlarge with the right materials and colors
The project goal was not only to furnish each mini-apartment functionally and practically, but also to create a feel-good atmosphere. The problem with small apartments is that they sometimes look crowded and untidy. Dishes, accessories, clothing and other household items can be stored in the built-in cupboards so that they don't get in the way. Furthermore, all the walls were painted white - so the one-room apartment looks larger and brighter. Wall color plays a big role, especially in London, where the weather is dreary most of the year. The wooden floor, painted in sky blue, forms the perfect background for the furniture and wall decoration.
The furniture is made from high-quality wood, which makes the interior feel cozy and inviting. The walnut wood has only been oiled and therefore fascinates with its original color and attractive grain. The oak wood, on the other hand, was treated with black glaze varnish and stands out with itsdark color attractive accents. The contrast between the wall design and the furniture is softened by the wallpaper with abstract patterns. They not only look extremely decorative, but also create a visual connection between the individual areas.
The bathroom was deliberately kept simple in white - but the ceramic tiles score points with their attractive marble look and make the bathroom appear elegant and high-quality. The glass shower enclosure adds the finishing touch to the design.
Project by:bicbloc
