Très Petite Maison Parisienne

The stereotypical profile of someone living in a 129 sq ft apartment is a person who might have trouble putting together enough scratch to afford ramen noodles. Therefore the idea that he or she could pull off a tasteful and smart renovation is nearly unthinkable. We talk here a lot about this phenomenon: how small spaces tend to get marginalized because many of the people who live in them might not have the resources to give their spaces the design love they deserve. So we are quick to point out exceptions like this tiny (12 sq m/129 sq ft) Parisian flat designed by Julie Nabucet Architecture.

The main feature of the space is a raised platform that holds a trundle bed. When extended halfway, the bed also acts as a sofa. There is a clever drawer built into the platform stair that holds pillows (an oft-overlooked detail with many hiding beds).

Stacked wooden boxes separate the kitchen from the living room and act as storage–these make a lot of sense, though we suspect they’re not stable enough to use as a counter. There is a bunch of built-in storage along the room’s main wall.

The small kitchen has a two burner cooktop and a small convection/microwave oven (everything is kinda small actually). The bathroom sink is separated by a lattice plywood divider that creates some separation without closing off the space; the proximity of the bathroom sink to the kitchen keeps the two sinks on the same plumbing line.

Like many tiny spaces, this apartment’s main feature is its central location in the Montorgueil quarter. In her interview with Fair Companies, Nabucet talks about how Parisians tend to live outside, which makes big private spaces unnecessary. With a little bit of design, this apartment is a nice demonstration that your urban launchpad can be as attractive as it is functional.