WHAT
Apartment
14,75 m²
WHERE
Sofia, Bulgaria
WHEN
June 2023
Located in the heart of Sofia on a street that is closed off to cars on the ground floor sits a space that is 14.75m2 with a height of 375cm.
Our task was to transform this small area into an apartment that can accommodate all of the needs of one person and make room for a spacious bathroom, a kitchenette with a washing machine, a small living room, a bedroom, and storage space.
photos by Stefan Donchev
layout
The height of the apartment allowed us to create two levels connected by a stairway. The stairway was made by the sculptor Tony Vrachanov based on a design by the architect Anna Colasante.
the kitchen
The goal was to create a place that would comfortably accommodate a young person or a couple and so it needed to be fresh, welcoming, and hip.
living
As a start, we replaced the old windows with floor-to-ceiling windows that can also serve as an entryway to the attached small yard. In addition, we took the time to landscape the yard and brought it to life by adding some garden furniture to it.
the stairs
The kitchenette, stairway, and floor were finished with an epoxy resin in the same color. The unicolor floor serves a dual purpose as it makes the area appear larger than it really is, as well as unites the various interior design elements.
kitchen
The ground level includes a small entryway with a wardrobe, the bathroom, the kitchenette, and a lounge area. We constructed a wooden loft and showcased it with a headboard made of plywood stained only with oil.
second floor
The second level is accessible by an artistic looking stairway, which is also comfortable to use and ergonomically sound. The visually appealing banister serves as a functional handrail that allows for a safe ascent to the sleeping area.
the stairs
the stairs
the stairs
the garden
The furniture was arranged by the artist Kalina Chankova, while the artwork was done by Polina Stoyanova.
the second floor
We decided to make the banister safety wall on the loft out of glass so as to complement the look of the stairway as well as to ensure safety.
second floor
second floor
We furnished the upper level with a 180-cm-wide bed and a small wardrobe. The floor is made of waterproof plywood that provides a nice contrast with the soft and colorful fabric of the French bed.
the bathroom
For the bathroom we went a more classic route – it is fully tiled;
the bathroom
The walls are white, except for the shower back wall which we finished with smaller two-tone tiles arranged in a fish-scale pattern to provide a splash of color.
the bathroom
The floor and ceiling are both painted with a soft shade of gray-blue to match the color scheme in the rest of the apartment. There is a spacious shower stall and all of the accessories are white.
