architect / Anastasia Romeyko
location / Samara, Russia
area / 40 m2
photo / Dmitry Nedykhalov
The small apartment of 40 m2 is located in a club house in the sanatorium area of the city. Since the ground floor has access to the adjacent private plot, the dimensions of the property are perceived together with a small garden, bounded by a pergola with a green hedge of wild grapes. A small apartment is a transformer that combines living, work and leisure in one place. The planning solution involves the maximum useful area of the apartment with the organization of clear functional zoning. All areas are comfortably proportioned with good natural light through tall south-facing windows. The structure of the apartment is divided into 2 areas: private and public. Public: entrance hall with wardrobe, dedicated bathroom and kitchen block, dining-living room; private: bedroom and workroom, where an additional sleeping place can be located. The living area has a second entrance from the street from the garden side and can also be used as a home office with the possibility of receiving clients, while the private room is separated and closed to the public. The spatial textile partitions of the bedroom, forming the zoning, also block the view of the private areas and create the feeling of two different rooms inside one. A large wall mirror in the size of a door visually enlarges the space, reflects natural light and serves as a link between the two functional volumes of the apartment. In the summer season, the garden, hidden by a green fence, serves as a place for relaxation and reception of visitors. A rational approach is applied in the interior solution, with an emphasis on the planning concept, where the original materials such as concrete and wall blocks serve as a background and emphasize the harmony of the living environment. The dominant color of the walls is white, like a blank sheet of paper, giving a sense of renewal. The bathroom and kitchen block is highlighted in a contrasting black cube, emphasizing the compactness and rationality of the apartment's architectural solution and introducing an element of graphics. The principal factor in shaping the interior was personal vintage pieces of furniture, restored to individual orders, which bring a certain atmosphere and comfort. The only decorative chandelier in the private room is made from postcards with sketches by the author.