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      Caged wooden galleries feature in Puzzle Link apartment by Gheorghe

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      Architecture and research studio Gheorghe has inserted two triangular cross-laminated timber structures into a loft in Vienna as part of its renovation of the apartment.

      Set within a historic building in Vienna’s 13th district, the top level of the apartment was designed to encourage interaction between a couple and their children.
      Two cross-laminated timber (CLT) structures, which dominate each end of the space, were designed to provide the occupants with places to work, play and look down onto the open-plan living and dining area below.
      Made up of 698 planks the structures incorporate shelves, storage space, seating areas and tables. They are both be accessed by a set of timber stairs.
      Puzzle Link is a loft apartment in a historic building in Vienna”Through the wooden structure the built-in attic becomes a place of approach by enabling visual relationships, warmth through used materials and a hybrid zone between different spatial functions,” said Gheorghe co-founder Andrei Gheorghe.

      “We wanted to create an aesthetic and practical connection, to gain additional spatial functions and to make the spacious intermediate space multifunctional and to make it a meeting place,” Gheorghe told Dezeen.
      Two wooden galleries dominate each end of the spaceThe Vienna-based studio redesigned the attic floor for the family who required a “sustainable, unique and functional” space to live. According to Gheorghe, the warm-toned timber was used for its ability to be reused if needed.
      “The inspiration for the design was marked by the fact that it needed to be sustainable, unique and functional,” Gheorghe explained.
      “This is the perfect material for us, on one hand offering the necessary structural strength and dimensions but also the possibility of being reused,” he added.
      “This is a sustainable material because all the leftovers after the milling process could be further processed towards wood pellets.”
      They are made from 698 planks of cross-laminated timberEach two-by-five plank was CNC-milled by a local carpentry company. The planks were then constructed using 3D-modelling techniques and scripting technology to give the structures their unusual, jigsaw-like shape.
      This is also what led the studio to name the project Puzzle Link.

      IFUB installs bespoke black steel fittings in 1930s Art Deco apartment renovation

      While transforming the space, the studio also looked to maintain its original historical features.
      The Viennese tiles that lined the building’s original staircase, which had been saved and stored by the client, were cleaned and reused for the floor of the raised platform that runs inside alongside the terrace.
      Although the apartment has been sparsely decorated, a few key pieces of furniture that the family collected while travelling abroad are placed around the space.
      The apartment is sparsely furnishedA minimalist Shaker hearth by German fireplace manufacturer Skantherm sits underneath the timber stairs while a floor-to-ceiling bookcase can be found inside one of the timber structures.
      A black storage unit made from coated MDF, paper and acrylic resin in the open plan area provides contrast to the otherwise whitewashed wooden furnishings.
      Elsewhere, a skylight punctuates the slanted roof and along with several smaller windows, floods the space with natural light.
      Other Viennese apartments include Beletage Apartment by British architect Alex Graef, an apartment with restored oak flooring and clean white walls.
      Meanwhile, Slovenian architecture studio Kombinat renovated an apartment in the Austrian capital into a hybrid living space with room for both cooking and working.
      The photography is by Frame9.

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      Ten residential interiors bolstered by exposed wooden beams

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      From a refurbished apartment in Barcelona to the home of an architectural designer in London, our latest lookbook rounds up 10 interiors that celebrate the tactility of exposed wooden beams.

      Beams are joists that support a building’s ceiling or roof. Rather than covering the interior beams, the designers below have left them as they were originally constructed, giving the homes a rustic yet industrial feel.
      Interior designers from Japan to Australia have incorporated exposed beams and columns in their projects, often integrating the existing wooden structures with contemporary elements such as cabinetry, shelving units and lighting fixtures.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing gardens with swimming pools, steely kitchens and interiors with a natural and calming organic modern design.

      Photo is by Alice GaoMorehouse, US, by James Veal and Christine Stucker
      Renovated by Brooklyn studio Stewart-Schafer for the company’s co-founders, this home in Connecticut is designed to reflect the 18 acres of woodland that surround it.
      The studio opted to fill the home with Japandi style decor and a natural, woody colour palette to complement the existing wooden floors, ceilings and other joinery.
      Find out more about Morehouse ›
      Photo is by Ulysse LemeriseThe Barn, Canada, by Louis Beliveau
      Nestled into a hillside in Mansonville, Québec, The Barn is a three-storey building that Montreal designer Louis Beliveau of La Firme studio converted from a decrepit building into a holiday home for two city dwellers.
      The 418-square-metre, light-filled interior has white oak floors, white-washed wood walls and exposed wood beams throughout, which the designers chose to keep the property’s “rustic character”.
      Find out more about The Barn ›
      Photo is by Nieve I Productora AudiovisualBookcase, Spain, by Nook Architects
      This Barcelona apartment refurbished by Nook Architects was designed to allow light to flow through the entire space. A central lightwell casts daylight into the bathroom, kitchen and storage rooms while Crittal glass partitions bordering the master bedroom give the occupants some privacy while they sleep.
      The apartment’s original colourful tile flooring, which the studio uncovered during the restoring, completes the space.
      Find out more about Bookcase ›
      Photo is by Eric PetschekChelsea Loft, US, by Worrell Yeung
      Timber columns, beams and ceiling joists were left raw and exposed in this Manhattan loft that Worrell Yeung renovated for an artist with an eclectic art collection.
      Part of the playful overhaul also involved installing new pieces of Cassina furniture, painting the walls and ceiling white and adding reclaimed pine wood floors.
      Find out more about Chelsea ›
      Photo is by Adrian GautVipp Studio, US, by Vipp
      Danish design company Vipp’s pared-back aesthetic characterises this showroom-cum-apartment in Tribeca, which serves as the founder’s pied-à-terre when they visit New York.
      Set in a former factory that dates back to 1883, the showroom is clad in a neutral grey-beige paint that matches the grey soft furnishings in the fully functional living room and bedrooms.
      Find out more about Vipp Studio ›
      Photo by James BrittainCollage House, England, by Jonathan Tuckey Design
      Architectural designer and founder of Jonathan Tuckey Design, Jonathan Tuckey chose “simple and everyday” materials in his renovation of this 19th-century steel workshop to create a characterful London home for his family and their dog.
      The designer decided to restore the original beams in the ceiling and left the bare brick walls tarnished with black marks to add to the weathered look.
      Find out more about Collage House ›
      Photo is by Yago PartalEnd of the Roc, Spain, by Nook Architects
      Situated within an apartment building in the gothic quarter of Barcelona, End of the Roc features a number of quirky designs including geometric patterned floor tiling, a 40-year-old wall covering and original wooden ceiling beams.
      Other surfaces and furnishings that Nook Architects chose to flesh out the apartment have been crafted from oak or painted black to create a sense of cohesion.
      Find out more about End of the Roc ›
      Photo is by Joe FletcherGowanus Loft, US, by General Assembly
      New York studio General Assembly deliberately left the chunky timber columns and beams exposed during the renovation of this apartment in Brooklyn, sanding them down to expose more of the original woodwork.
      While an effort was made to retain the character of the former textile mill, the studio added lighter touchers to the space through grey tilting in the kitchen, polished concrete flooring and rift white oak cabinetry.
      Find out more about Gowanus Loft ›
      Photo is by Koichi TorimuraY House, Japan, by Studio Kwas
      Several striking sets of angular spruce wood columns protrude like tree trunks throughout Y House, a two-storey city dwelling in Kamakura designed for a family of five. Three sets fill the open plan living area, which has a dining room, lounge and kitchen.
      The open plan design continues on the second floor of the house, where pine beams and diagonal columns create playful partitions that divide the sleeping and play areas.
      Find out more about Y House ›
      Photo is by Suzanna Scott PhotographyCalistoga Residence, US, by Wade Design Architects and Geremia Design
      The vineyards, barns and farmhouses of northern California’s wine town Napa Valley informed this wood-clad home designed by American studios Wade Design Architects and Geremia Design.
      Awash with white walls and pale tones set off against darker tiled flooring and black window frames, the home is filled with antiques that the client collected over many years.
      Find out more about Calistoga Residence ›
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing parquet flooring, terrazzo flooring and wood-clad kitchens.

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      Konishi Gaffney converts 1950s garage into artist's studio with a sense of “civic grandeur”

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      Architecture studio Konishi Gaffney has overhauled a 1950s garage in an affluent Edinburgh suburb, adding a rhythmic facade made up of wooden battens.

      The Scottish studio was challenged with turning the existing concrete garage into a functional artist’s studio, while being sensitive to the existing Georgian property in The Grange.
      The converted garage sits beside the original stone Georgian houseKonishi Gaffney devised a scheme that involved filling in the existing garage door, raising the structure’s roof to match the height of the house’s ground floor and incorporating the property’s side gate into the facade.
      These changes unified the structure’s appearance from the road creating a sense of contemporary “civic grandeur”, as well as facilitating secure side access to the back garden.
      The grid of battens frame a window and conceal a side gate”As a practice we’ve been exploring ways of expressing the structure of cladding in projects,” said Konishi Gaffney.

      “We started by setting up the vertical timber battens and horizontal cladding in a rhythm of fins across the facade.”
      Windows and skylights allow plenty of natural light to enter the studioTimber was selected for its affordability, sustainability and its capacity to weather appealingly.
      The battens were carefully orientated to allow water to drain off them and prevent water from pooling, as well as to catch light and form interesting shadows across the facade.

      Konishi Gaffney repurposes church into versatile community hub

      The existing structure was insulated and the walls and ceiling punctuated by two aluminium clad windows and a skylight, providing the studio space with ample natural light for the artist to work in during all seasons.
      The creative function of the structure’s interior is referenced in the facade, which was intended to read “like a musical score,” and “continue beyond, separated from the house, like a stage-front.” according to the architects.
      Wooden elements feature in the studio’s interior as well as on its exteriorThe wooden composition of the frontage continues on into the garage’s interior, which has a ceiling clad in dark stained wood with protruding beams.
      Other garage-related projects featured on Dezeen include an orange-painted timber-framed garage extension by McCloy + Muchemwa and a garage in Amsterdam that was transformed into a family home by Barde + VanVoltt.
      The photography is by ZAC and ZAC.
      Project credits:
      Architect: Konishi Gaffney ArchitectsStructural engineer: EntuitiveJoiner: Andrew MacdonaldCladding supplier: RusswoodWindows: VelfacPhotographer: ZAC and ZAC

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      Part Office transforms Venice Beach condos into “calm” live-work units

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      Los Angeles design studio Part Office has renovated two condominiums on the California coast, as part of a wider conversion of buildings into hybrid residential and office spaces.

      Sited directly on the Venice Beach boardwalk, the Venice Lofts occupy a pair of buildings that are undergoing updates to create a 44,000-square-foot (4,088-square-metre) complex of 12 live-work units.
      Part Office used a minimal material and colour palette to transform the condos into live-work unitsPhase one of the project involved the completion of two units, as well as exterior common areas, hardscaping and landscaping in collaboration with LA studio Cactus Store.
      Finished without specific tenants, the spaces were designed to be neutral and flexible, with a restrained material palette of oak, concrete, steel and tile used throughout.
      Double-height spaces were kept open and sparsely furnished”In contrast to similar programs, where trends within start-up culture favour bold and irreverent design gestures detached from their specific users or locations, our intent was to create a calm environment that reflected a nostalgic coastal experience,” said Part Office.

      Code and structural requirements meant that the building envelopes were preserved, and that units need to have an equal division of “live” and “work” spaces.
      Accordion doors allow spaces to be separated or joined as requiredDue to the shift in office culture during the pandemic, the team chose to lend the units a less formal and more residential atmosphere. Although layouts of some units vary slightly, all are organised in a similar way.
      Lower floors are designated primarily for residential use, with necessities like kitchens and bathrooms, while other adjustable spaces are separated by rows of accordion doors.
      Concealed doors under the stairs open to provide storage spaceOpen double-height areas function as living spaces but can also be used as more casual work environments, and are sparsely populated with modular pieces crafted by LA-based Michael O’Connell Furniture.
      Open workspaces can be found upstairs, furnished with custom desks that feature angular steel bases and lime-washed ash tops. Each unit also comes with its own roof deck.

      David Saik gives Emeco a cactus-filled Californian brand home

      Grooved oak panelling used across walls and concealed doors was also lime-washed “to create a more beach weathered appearance”, and guardrails were installed with a very fine mesh “to appear like window screens overlooking the beach”.
      “Attention was placed on the detail, finish, and interaction of each material in order to elevate their appearance,” said Part Office.
      Workspaces upstairs are furnished with custom desksOn the exterior, orange glazed tiles by ceramic artist Sofia Londono were added to breezeways to demarcate unit entries, and the planting evokes windswept coastal environments.
      Venice Beach, which is known for its bohemian and creative spirit, is a popular place for small businesses like design studios and architecture firms to operate from.
      Orange glazed tiles and coastal planting were used to enliven the exterior spacesFurniture company Emeco recently opened a cactus-filled brand space in a converted an old sewing factory in the neighbourhood.
      The photography is by Taiyo Watanabe and Gustav Liliequist.
      Project credits:
      Design: Part OfficeTeam: Jeff Kaplon, Kristin Korven, Israel CejaArchitect of record: Klawiter and AssociatesContractor: Barling ConstructionLandscape: Cactus StoreFurniture: Michael O’Connell Furniture

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      Ten steely kitchens that use metal as their primary material

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      A black steel island fitted between original cast-iron columns, a gleaming stainless-steel kitchen and one with reclaimed metal cabinetry are among the kitchen interiors featured in our latest lookbook.

      Metal kitchens can make for a stylish addition to a residential interior, often lending the heart of the home an industrial and restaurant-style look.
      These types of kitchens are said to have risen to popularity during the 1950s, after the steel factories that were formerly used to manufacture weapons pivoted to produce domestic goods.
      Though they went out of favour in the 1960s, by the turn of the millennium sleek, stainless steel kitchens were popularised in residential homes as the result of a futuristic, technology-driven outlook.
      They have since come to represent a modern kitchen look. Here, Dezeen has spotlighted ten homes that make use of metal in residential kitchens in different ways.

      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing relaxing hammocks, white bathrooms and minimalist interiors with natural palettes.
      Photo is by Ioana MarinescuFrame House, UK, by Jonathan Tuckey Design
      British studio Jonathan Tuckey Design renovated this Grade-II listed building in west London, creating a two-storey home that features open-plan living solutions and skeletal partitions.
      Its kitchen, which was positioned behind an intentionally incomplete wall, was clad in stainless steel to provide the home with a cool metallic distinction against the exposed brick walls and plywood carpentry that surround it.
      Find out more about Frame House ›
      Photo is by Ralph FeinerFarmhouse, Switzerland by Baumhauer
      Set within a vaulted room in a traditional barn house in the Swiss hamlet of Florins, architecture studio Baumhauer used clean lines and modern finishes to juxtapose against the home’s farmhouse look.
      An L-shaped kitchen, comprised of two stainless steel counters and rows of cabinetry, was placed beneath the curving ceiling. The metal countertop has a seamless look and features a built-in sink and electric hob, with appliances incorporated within the steel cupboards below.
      Find out more about the farmhouse ›
      Photo is by Nieve, Productora AudiovisualCasa Roc, Spain, by Nook Architects
      Fitted along the edge of an open-plan living and dining room, a glossy metal-lined kitchen adds a modern look to the interior of this Barcelona apartment, which was renovated by Spanish studio Nook Architects.
      The renovation saw the studio maintain the Gothic Quarter apartment’s original mosaic floors and wooden beams while applying shades of grey and white across the walls and ceiling.
      Find out more about Casa Roc ›
      Photo is by Salva LópezBarcelona apartment, Spain, by Isabel López Vilalta
      Several partition walls were removed in architecture and interior design studio Isabel López Vilalta’s overhaul of this penthouse apartment in Barcelona’s Sarrià-Sant Gervasi.
      Afterward, the studio fitted a black iron island that anchored the kitchen, and its appliances, within the now open-plan kitchen, dining and living area.
      “Life in the kitchen was very important to the family, they felt more comfortable in a lively, gathering space than in a strictly traditional and functional kitchen,” said Vilalta.
      Find out more about Barcelona apartment ›
      Photo is by Paul WarcholThe Photographer’s Loft, US, by Desai Chia Architecture
      Aptly named The Photographer’s Loft, this minimal loft apartment in New York was renovated by US studio Desai Chia Architecture for a photographer local to the city. It occupies a 5,000-square-foot former industrial space and is complete with cast iron columns that line the interior.
      Within the home’s main living space, the studio fitted a long black steel kitchen island that runs parallel to a stark white row of kitchen cabinetry and also a dining table.
      The island’s dark steel construction ties to the apartment’s existing iron columns, creating the impression that it existed alongside its original industrial features.
      Find out more about The Photographer’s Loft ›
      Photo is by Justin Clemons and Robert TsaiCCR1 Residence, US, by Wernerfield
      With a material palette consisting of concrete, steel, teak and glass, this kitchen has a stainless-steel finish that covers its worktops, appliances and below- and overhead cabinetry.
      The kitchen has a U-shaped design that backs onto its living and dining area, creating a social yet practical space. The home was designed by Dallas studio Wernerfield and occupies a lakefront setting in a rural location 60 miles southeast of Dallas.
      Find out more about CCR1 Residence ›
      Photo is by Claudia Muñoz KarigCasa Ocal, Ecuador, by Jorge Ramón Giacometti Taller de Arquitectura
      Reclaimed metal was used across the kitchen of this home designed by architecture studio Jorge Ramón Giacometti Taller de Arquitectura in northern Ecuador.
      The textural weathered material was used across its cupboards, countertops and splashback and contrasts against the home’s light timber walls. Positioned above the single row of cabinets, and with a sink at its middle, a rectangular window provides views across the hilly surroundings.
      Find out more about Casa Ocal ›

      House in Tokushima, Japan, by FujiwaraMuro Architects
      Fitted in a home in Tokushima, a city on the Japanese island of Shikoku, a metallic kitchen flanks a living and dining room between its split-level living arrangement.
      Designed by Japanese studio FujiwaraMuro Architects, the kitchen comprises an open-plan design, with its countertops and sink looking out to an adjoining breakfast bar that lines the border of the home’s dining room.
      Find out more about House in Tokushima ›
      Photo is by French+TyeEast Dulwich house extension, UK, by Alexander Owen Architecture
      London studio Alexander Owen Architecture added a marble-clad extension to this Victorian mid-terrace in East Dulwich, London, which houses a kitchen fitted with poured concrete floors, shot-blaster pewter brick walls, a timber ceiling and a stainless steel kitchen.
      The L-shaped kitchen stretches the width of the home and extends across the adjoining length of the extensions pewter brick walls. Stainless steel clads the tops of the kitchen’s worksurfaces and the sides of an island placed at the centre of the space.
      Find out more about East Dulwich house extension ›
      Photo is by Anton GorlenkoShakespeare Tower apartment, UK, by Takero Shimazaki Architects
      Metal countertops top wooden cabinetry at this Japanese-style apartment located within London’s Barbican Estate by London-based studio Takero Shimazaki Architects.
      The apartment comprises a primarily wooden interior that is complemented with cooler materials, such as glossy-black subway tiles organised across the floors of the kitchen, steel worksurfaces and appliances that run parallel in the galley-style space. An exposed concrete ceiling provides a finishing touch.
      Find out more about Shakespeare Tower apartment ›
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing relaxing hammocks, white bathrooms and minimalist interiors with natural palettes.

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      Studio McW transforms London warehouse into live-work space for Earthrise Studio

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      London-based architecture practice Studio McW has converted an east London warehouse into an office and living space for climate activists and filmmakers Jack Harries and Alice Aedy.

      The live-work space was renovated from a century-old shoe factory featuring steel windows, exposed concrete beams, and a double-height pitched roof. The studio took a minimalistic approach to the renovation, aiming to enhance the 1924 building’s original features.
      Studio McW converted an existing warehouse into a home office for Earthrise Studio”It was key for us to not only retain, but also celebrate the existing suspended slabs and concrete beams which tell the story of how the building was originally built,” studio co-founders Greg Walton and David McGahon told Dezeen.
      “By exposing the rawness of the existing brickwork and imperfect concrete, we were able to contrast this with softer tones and textures, be that the clay finish to the walls or the reclaimed timber boards on the floor, whilst mirroring the variation and depth inherent in such finishes.”
      The studio exposed existing textures and balanced them with soft clay-finished wallsHarries and Aedy wanted a space where they could both live and work on their media company Earthrise, which has a focus on communicating the climate crisis. The duo briefed the studio to design a multi-purpose space suitable for recording podcasts and hosting social gatherings, work meetings, and photoshoots.

      While the 100-square-metre space was made to serve various different functions, the studio wanted to maintain a sense of continuity throughout the building by keeping the design as simple as possible in all spaces.
      The existing large steel windows let light into the main office space”Whilst the joinery is highly specific to the needs of Jack and Alice, it is in essence a very simple intervention that ties together the entirety of the upper floor, and blurs the intersection between the functions required by a kitchen space, dining space, work space, and living space,” said Walton and McGahon.
      “This element of the scheme remained consistent from concept to completion and is integral to ensuring a continuity within the space.”
      A bedroom located behind a glazed wall occupies the lower floorStudio McW redesigned the entrance level, opening up the existing partitioned bedroom and dressing room to create a large aperture to draw light through the new glazed internal wall to the bathroom and utility space.
      Above, an open-plan living space is accessed by a staircase made from reclaimed Georgian pine floor boards, beside which runs a black steel balustrade.

      GRT Architects divides Brooklyn townhouse into live-work space for artist couple

      Prior to the renovation, this floor was constricted by redundant overhead services and an unused concrete doorway. The studio removed these to open up the space both vertically and horizontally.
      A new concrete sideboard spans the length of the room, acting as seating and storage as well as displaying the clients’ collection of artwork, photography, and cameras. A matching concrete island sits in the centre of the kitchen.
      A staircase made from reclaimed timber leads to the main floorThe main space also features custom oak joinery, including a table, a shelving unit, and additional floating shelves. Both levels of the building were finished with toxin-absorbing matte clay walls.
      “Greg and David created a space that feels very much in the spirit of Earthrise. The apartment is a natural, flexible, and beautiful backdrop to our work and lives, and the design allows it to oscillate between functions accordingly,” Alice Aedy commented.
      Shelving units and a concrete bench offer storage and display space at the side of the kitchenAccording to the studio, the apartment remains well protected from the potential of overheating despite the age of the structure.
      “The open stair, tall ceilings to the living space and openable windows all contribute to passive stack ventilation which assist in keeping the space cool,” said McGahon and Walton. “The apartment has glazing that opens on both the east and west faces, allowing for cross-ventilation during the warmer summer months.”
      A lounge area fills the other end of the open spaceThe studio hopes additional recent and future refurbishments will improve the levels of thermal comfort.
      “The roof of the building had recently been refurbished with vast improvements made to the thermal performance,” Walton and McGahon commented.
      “All of the building occupants have contributed towards the replacement of the existing single-glazed steel Crittal windows throughout,” they continued.
      “This will provide vast improvements to the thermal performance of the glazing, whilst retaining the style akin to the original building. These works are due to take place over the next year.”
      Founded by David McGahon and Greg Walton, Studio McW is an architecture practice operating across the UK whose recent projects include a London home extension with oak joinery.
      The photography is by Lorenzo Zandri.

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      Skewed apartment by Clément Lesnoff-Rocard Architect celebrates “edges”

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      Local architect Clément Lesnoff-Rocard used clean lines, light colours and mirrors to create a bright interior within this skewed Parisian penthouse.

      Located on the top two floors of a 1980s building in Paris’ 17th arrondissement, The Edge apartment is a penthouse that looks out over the city’s rooftops.
      “This space gave me this very specific feeling that you have when you find yourself on a cliff, attracted by its edge, mesmerized by the beauty of the landscape and quietly terrified of falling down,” said Clément Lesnoff-Rocard of his first impressions of the 105-square-metre apartment.
      “This had to be a topic to work with for me, this edge.”
      The Edge is a Parisian apartment that was designed by Clément Lesnoff-Rocard ArchitectHe also noted how although the building has a flat facade, the apartment’s plan is heavily slanted with “quite a strong angle” to the boulevard below.

      “Like if someone pushed too hard on the edge of the building, bending everything inside so you can nearly never face any neighbour and creating unusual and sharp angles in the floor plan,” explained Lesnoff-Rocard. “Straight skin with twisted bones.”
      In response to these conditions, Lesnoff-Rocard created an off-white interior that celebrates edges.
      The apartment combines textural materials throughoutSpread across two floors, the two-bedroom apartment features an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area on the lower floor.
      A small toilet and built-in cupboards are hidden by mirrored doors along one of the diagonal walls. These serve to reflect the light from the windows on the opposite side of the room.
      It has an open plan arrangementHere, the architects inserted a curved platform that softens the room’s awkward angles. Running along the length of the wall, the platform forms a window seat and a small raised outdoor terrace area.
      A central column clad in fluted plaster boards sits in front of the open-plan kitchen, which features black cabinets and a mirrored splashback.

      The Whale apartment in Paris riffs on art deco design

      A marble staircase with a walk-in closet slotted beneath it is framed by raw concrete. The stair leads up to the first floor where there is a main bedroom with a shower room, two smaller bedrooms and a family bathroom.
      Using a light, tonal colour palette, Lesnoff-Rocard created interesting material junctions, such as black wood and white paint or white marble and white concrete.
      The studio used a light, tonal palette across the interior”The edge can bring the outside in with bay windows or it can take your inside thoughts out in the sky through roof windows,” he said.
      “Concrete can look soft, textured and sensual when composed with a white-painted wall, while it can look hard and slick when topped by a fluffy shaggy pillow,” he added.
      “The edge can invite you to come upstairs with a light portal or it can push you away from the center of the room with a massive angular block. The edge can close with a wall or open with a mirror.”
      Curved edges aim to soften harsh cornersPreviously, Lesnoff-Rocard’s studio has completed an apartment using mirror, brass and simple geometries to create an understated take on art deco.
      Elsewhere in Paris, Java Architecture renovated and extended a stone house adding a wooden tower that is clad in polycarbonate panels.
      Photography is by Laurent Kronental.

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      Ten bookshelf staircases that add clever storage to living spaces

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      A converted Belgian barn and a pine-lined house in Japan are among the residential interiors featured in our latest lookbook, which contains homes defined by staircases that incorporate bookshelves.

      Bookshelf staircases are a clever way to incorporate storage in, around and alongside stairs, which helps to save space within small dwellings.
      Architects and interior designers also use these two-in-one units to create striking sculptural statements and add distinctive character to a room.
      From a renovated east London home to a petite Barcelona apartment, here are 10 examples of residences that use bookshelf staircases to minimise clutter or add eclectic detail.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing homes with hammocks, white bathrooms and garden studios.

      Photo by Lorenzo ZandriFarleigh Road, UK, by Paolo Cossu Architects
      Local studio Paolo Cossu Architects added a double-width oak staircase to this east London home that also serves as a bookshelf and a place to sit and read or chat.
      The renovated house was designed in this way to connect its upper and lower ground floors, which were previously subdivided into two separate properties.
      “We wanted to create a cross-level multi-functional space, that would feel connected and form part of a larger permeable living space,” architect James Kitson told Dezeen.
      Find out more about Farleigh Road ›
      Photo courtesy of Andrea MoscaBookshelf House, France, by Andrea Mosca
      Stepped bookshelves become stair bannisters, room dividers and general storage at this renovated house just outside of Paris by architect Andrea Mosca.
      On the ground floor, statement pouf-like sofas frame the characterful wooden units that were designed to look like stacked boxes rather than flat shelves.
      Find out more about Bookshelf House ›
      Photo by Maria CeballosBarcelona apartment, Spain, by Eva Cotman
      A mezzanine guest room and storage area are accessed via a petite geometric staircase that doubles as a bookshelf in this Barcelona apartment renovated by architect Eva Cotman.
      Every surface was painted white in order to create a blank, airy canvas for the occupants, including the statement staircase as well as exposed brick walls and timber ceiling joists.
      “The heart of the house is around the library, which separates the dining room from the built-in closet and, at the same time, joins the kitchen, dining room and the living room,” explained Cotman.
      Find out more about this Barcelona apartment ›
      Photo is by Tamir AddadiLondon home, UK, by Tamir Addadi Architecture
      London studio Tamir Addadi Architecture converted a loft in the city’s Muswell Hill area to include steep white stairs that also serve as a cage-style bookshelf.
      The structure’s painted wooden panels are interspersed with shelving rails that create individual compartments for books, while the space is illuminated from above by a south-facing skylight.
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      Photo is by Koen Van DammeConverted barn, Belgium, by Studio Farris Architects
      A Jenga-like workspace was formed from stacked timber beams in this converted barn in West Flanders, Belgium.
      As well as a mezzanine office, the chunky structure creates a compact but eye-catching staircase that doubles as bookshelves and plinths for ornamental objects.
      “The stacked beams become the library, bookshelves, storage room, and resting and reading area,” said Studio Farris founder Giuseppe Farris.
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      Photo is by Ema PeterBerkley House, Canada, by RSAAW
      Canadian firm RSAAW connected the levels of Berkley House in Vancouver with a double-height wooden bookcase formed from rows of light timber boxes attached to a large staircase.
      The renovated mid-century house was transformed to include gallery-like details such as white-painted walls, and the studio also added large windows and skylights that brighten the interior space.
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      Photo is courtesy of SchemaaParis apartment, France, by Schemaa
      Space was maximised in this small Parisian apartment through the placement of an alternating-tread staircase that also includes closed storage for books and other objects.
      French studio Schemaa created cupboards of different heights, concealed by doors measuring the same width as the stair treads, while the light-hued choice of wood gives the interior an airy feel.
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      Photo is by Tom CroninRosa and John’s Home, UK, by Zminkowska De Boise Architects
      Named after its owners, Rosa and John’s Home is a renovated London flat where books can be stored on their sides under a squat staircase that connects the two halves of a split-level living room.
      Zminkowska De Boise Architects inserted nooks on either side of the stairs to form more structured spaces for reading or studying. The stairs themselves serve as an informal space to gather.
      Find out more about Rosa and John’s Home ›
      Photo is courtesy of Kazuya Morita Architecture StudioShelf-Pod, Japan, by Kazuya Morita Architecture Studio
      Kazuya Morita Architecture Studio built interlocking laminated pine boards that slot together to form latticed shelving units from the floor to the ceiling of this home in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
      The boxy units are interrupted only by small staircases that provide staggered routes through the house’s different levels.
      Find out more about Shelf-Pod ›
      Photo is courtesy of Platform 5 ArchitectsBook Tower House, UK, by Platform 5 Architects
      Tall bookshelves fold around the oak staircase at Book Tower House, a north London home renovated and extended by Platform 5 Architects.
      Designed to house its owner’s extensive collection of books, the project includes a study space on the first floor that is reached via the staircase and cantilevers over the hallway below.
      Find out more about Book Tower House ›
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing pink kitchens, timber-clad bathrooms and multi-generational homes.

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