Russia

We’ve seen INT2 Architecture on this site in the past. The St Petersburg-based firm is Russia’s go-to firm’s for tricking out compact spaces. Though not as small as the 140 sq ft space we looked at before, this 430 sq ft space is far from huge and full of clever ideas. And even though we have a fondness for austere spaces, there’s something refreshing about the apartment’s liberal use of color and decoration.

INT2 does a nice job of creating virtual “rooms” in the studio space. In what seems to be a motif for the firm, they installed a raised wooden structure along the window that houses storage as well as making a distinct bedroom/office. A large sofa delineates the living area and a small round table serves as the dining area. Planters and pieces of playful art make the place feel warm and playful without being busy.

With crappy design, 200 sq ft can feel like a confining trap with little functional value. With great design, like this little room by Moscow’s INT2 Architecture, 200 sq ft can feel open and perform like a space much larger than its tiny footprint would suggest.

In order to maximize space, INT2 built a plywood box that occupies half the room. The box includes ample storage for clothes, books and more. In its center is a bed that doubles as a lounge area. The box is cut out in the center, allowing access to the window, which, combined with the apartment’s light color palette, makes the space feel open and airy–not an easy feat for such a small space.

There is a projector mounted in the front of the box which projects onto a sliding panel mounted on the opposite wall. Depending on where the panel is placed, it reveals either a chalkboard or mirror–the former providing temporary decoration, the latter making the space feel larger. The final touch is a tasteful small desk and chair.

We can’t ascertain what the space is used for, but it seems perfect for a dorm room or shared living situation–spaces that are rarely given such design flare. We imagine the construction of the box was not terribly expensive relative to the aesthetic and functional value it brings the room, and is something that could be made fairly easily by a competent carpenter.

via Trendir

Tag: Russia

Compact, Colorful, Russian Flat

Good Things Come in Small Boxes