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    Norman Kelley remodels Chicago apartment to showcase chair collection

    Design studio Norman Kelley and architect Spencer McNeil have completed Apartment for Chairs, a two-storey unit that features ample space for guests and a diverse collection of chairs.

    Located in a contemporary, high-rise building in Chicago’s Near North neighbourhood, the apartment was designed for a couple.
    Apartment for Chairs is located in a Chicago high-riseOne of the clients is a longtime local resident who collects art and furniture, and the other is a Detroit transplant who prefers cosy environments with organic materials and neutral colours.
    The goal was to create a home that suited both personalities and offered plenty of space for hosting guests and displaying the owners’ extensive chair collection.
    The dwelling was designed to house a diverse collection of chairsSpanning from the early 20th century to the present, the collection includes a Shaker tilter chair and pieces from the Bauhaus and De Stijl movements. Designers include Gerrit Rietveld, Piero Fornasetti, Gio Ponti, Marcel Breuer and Lina Bo Bardi, among others. The exact number of chairs is not being disclosed.

    “It is very much a living collection,” said local studio Norman Kelley, which designed the apartment in collaboration with Chicago architect Spencer McNeil.
    Norman Kelley created the project with Spencer McNeilThe project entailed combining two apartments – one atop the other – to form a spacious, two-storey unit.
    In total, the conjoined apartment encompasses 4,000 square feet (372 square metres).
    The apartment exists on two levelsThe lower level serves as the main apartment, while the bulk of the upper level is meant to act as its own private apartment – similar to an in-law suite, the team said.
    A range of modifications were made throughout the unit, including spatial changes and new finishes.
    Neutral wooden interiors are interrupted by small pops of colourThe most drastic change involved opening up a room on the upper level to form a mezzanine overlooking the lower-level living room. The double-height living room was pre-existing.
    The mezzanine, which holds an office, is connected to the room below by a new spiral staircase.
    A spiral staircase connects the two storeys”Our mandate from the owner was to create an object worthy of inclusion with the collected works of design in the home,” the team said of the staircase.
    Near the stair is a 20-foot-tall (six-metre) display area where books and chairs are on view. The steel display system has pegs, shelves, and backlit niches.
    Eames side chairs feature in the living roomOverall, the unit features a mix of vintage and contemporary decor, along with finishes such as white oak, walnut and limestone. In several areas, concrete structural elements were left exposed.
    The living room is fitted with a sectional by Molteni, Eames side chairs and a vintage Noguchi coffee table. An adjacent reading nook is adorned with chairs by Ponti and the Eameses. Overhead are globe-shaped lights by Jasper Morrison.
    Ample space was created to allow for entertainingJust off the living room, the kitchen and dining area were expanded, which was made possible by the elimination of a powder room.
    Finishes in the kitchen include lacquer cabinets, quartz countertops and a back-painted glass backsplash.
    The kitchen includes walnut stoolsWalnut stools were conceived by Norman Kelley and fabricated locally by Jason Lewis – one of several bespoke pieces.
    In the dining area, the team placed a walnut table by George Nakashima and caned-wood chairs by Emanuele Rambaldi. Above is a lighting fixture by BBPR and manufactured by Arteluce.
    A walnut table also defines the dining roomIn addition to the common areas, the first level has a main suite and two additional bedrooms. The team took an unusual approach by blurring the division between public and private spaces.
    For instance, the main bedroom’s door is a frameless, sliding wall that disappears when opened.

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    “In a home for two adults, we saw no reason for the bedroom to be considered a separate space,” the designers said.
    “There is no threshold between living room and the primary bedroom,” they added. “The whole apartment is a living space.”
    Plugs are built into a white oak bedThe sparsely adorned main bedroom features a white oak platform bed with built-in plugs – another element designed by Norman Kelley. Floor-to-ceiling windows are covered with gauzy curtains.
    The main bathroom has raked limestone walls, a walnut-and-Corian vanity and a Norman Kelley-designed ipe shower bench inspired by George Nelson’s mid-century platform bench.
    The main bathroom has raked limestone wallsUpstairs, the team made limited changes to the layout beyond the mezzanine. The upper level has two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room.
    “We specified furnishings for the upper unit, but there were no significant architectural changes,” the team said.
    “The majority of the renovation was limited to the lower unit and its connection to the upper unit.”
    Other Chicago projects by Norman Kelley include an Aesop store that features reclaimed bricks arranged in pinwheel patterns and the update of a lobby inside a postmodern tower by John Burgee and Philip Johnson.
    The photography is by Kendall McCaugherty Ristau and Sarah Crowley.

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    Latest Soho House outpost in Los Angeles takes cues from California's mid-century art scene

    Soho House has opened Holloway House, its third members’ club in Los Angeles, where colours and patterns are based on the work of artists such as David Hockney.

    Holloway House is located a few blocks east of Soho House West Hollywood but offers hotel rooms on top of lounge and dining spaces, while its sister property only has the latter.
    The Club area at Holloway House features green terrazzo flooringSpread over four floors and a rooftop, the club was envisioned by the company’s in-house design team, with nods to the bright block colours and strong geometric shapes of LA’s mid-century art scene.
    The interiors draw “inspiration from the Southern California landscape as well as the art movement in the 1950s and 1960s, when artists like Ed Ruscha, David Hockney, Robert Irwin and others found an unlikely home in the city,” the company said.
    Dark grey shelving in the library is contrasted with a boldly patterned carpetThe Club space on the ground floor features mint-green terrazzo floors accompanied by bespoke furniture upholstered in neutral-toned velvet and patterned fabrics.

    The flooring continues into the bar area – an outdoor atrium with table seating in golden textured fabrics to complement the various shades of green.
    The restaurant on the ground floor features burgundy leather boothsIn contrast, the library is decorated in dark grey, with a bold-patterned carpet and floor-to-ceiling shelving that wraps the space and is populated with artworks, books and lamps.
    Burgundy leather booths are paired with vintage chairs in the ground-floor restaurant, which has a menu built around popular dishes from other Soho House locations.
    Rows of cabanas face lounge seating and plants on the roofOn the roof, stepped rows of shaded cabanas face lounge seating, a screen of tropical planting and views of both the Hollywood Hills and Downtown LA.
    The Mandolin Mezze restaurant, an offshoot of the Mandolin Aegean Bistro in Miami, serves small plates and organic Greek wines to guests lounging on the neutral-toned outdoor furniture.

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    Colour is introduced to the rooftop through bold checked floor tiles, burgundy-piped umbrellas and an abstract mural by local artist Jessalyn Brooks.
    Other artworks throughout Holloway House were sourced from LA artists under 40 and include sculptures, photographs, works on paper, paintings and textile-based pieces.
    The building includes 34 guest bedrooms decorated with 1960s-influenced furnitureThe building also offers 34 hotel rooms set across its middle three floors.
    “Each is decorated with 1960s-inspired furniture, aged wooden floors and woven tapestries made with fabric designed in Southern California especially for the House,” said the design team.
    Holloway House is located just a few blocks from Soho House West HollywoodSoho House was founded in London in 1995 by Nick Jones and now has 36 properties as far-flung as Tokyo, Mumbai and Istanbul.
    Its other locations in California are Soho Warehouse in Downtown Los Angeles and Little Beach House Malibu, while other recent additions in the US include outposts in Austin and Nashville.
    The photography is by The Ingalls.

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

    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.

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    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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    Mutuus Studio designs inclusive Supernova nightclub in Seattle

    A giant disco ball holds the DJ booth at this nightclub in Seattle, designed by local firm Mutuus Studio to be a “safe and welcoming environment for women, BIPOC, and all members of the LGBTQIA+ community”.

    Supernova was established by DJ Zac Levine with Mutuus Studio, GMD Custom and several artists as an inclusive art and entertainment space.
    The Supernova nightclub is centred around a DJ booth inside a hemispherical disco ballThe nightclub occupies a 6,500-square-foot (604-square-metre) timber warehouse building built in 1937 in Seattle’s SoDo neighbourhood, which was transformed by the team into a two-floor venue.
    “Supernova’s guiding principle was to create a safe and welcoming environment for women, BIPOC, and all members of the LGBTQIA+ community as employees, patrons, and entertainers,” said Mutuus Studio. “Catering to diverse audiences, and self-expression, Supernova welcomes everyone to enjoy a night of dancing, music, and art.”
    The club occupies a former warehouse in Seattle’s SoDo neighbourhoodPatrons enter past graffitied walls and a neon-lit hall of mirrors onto a mezzanine on the upper level, which overlooks the main dance floor below.

    The DJ booth is housed within a huge disco ball, covered in small mirrored tiles and measuring eight feet (2.4 metres) in diameter.
    Rows of disco balls scatter light across the VIP areaThe hemispherical booth sits in the centre of a 30-foot-long (9.1-metre) stage, used by entertainers for performances of all kinds.
    These are accompanied by lighting arranged in diamond patterns behind the booth and other audiovisual equipment suspended from the roof.
    The venue is entered via a hall of mirrors illuminated with neonsA variety of installations can be found throughout the club’s many smaller spaces.
    A VIP area is demarcated by classic red velvet ropes and golden stanchions, beneath a ceiling of more disco balls that scatter light fractals across the dark space below the mezzanine.

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    In another lounge area, fluorescent panels cut into wavy shapes frame sofas and a pink neon mounted on the back wall.
    Some of the panels swoop down from the ceiling to create additional seating, while the first spans the room’s full height and is punctured by an amorphous shape that forms the doorway.
    Spaces within the club include a lounge framed with wavy fluorescent panelsDrinks are served from a metallic bar, as well as through the front of a vintage Volkswagen van – its windscreen missing but headlights still functioning.
    Supernova currently hosts weekly events, including house music and disco-themed parties on Fridays and Saturdays.
    A vintage Volkswagen van forms a barThe project was completed in July 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when many nightlife venues were hit hard by lockdowns and restrictions.
    In response, creative studio Production Club designed a personal protective suit for clubbing in the time of social distancing, which includes features for phone integration and beverage and vape consumption
    The space is filled with a variety of sculptures and installationsBased in Seattle, Mutuus Studio has completed a wide range of projects in the Pacific Northwest – from designing a cosy farm-to-table restaurant, to turning a large, steel sphere into an installation in a waterfront park.
    The photography is by James Gerde, unless stated otherwise.
    Project credits:
    Mutuus Studio design team: Kristen Becker, Saul Becker, Jim Friesz, Jorge Gomez

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    David Chipperfield Architects designs minimal Akris boutique in Washington DC

    The Milan office of David Chipperfield Architects has designed a minimalist boutique for fashion brand Akris in Washington DC, featuring pleated walls and displays suspended from thin wires.

    The store in the US capital is the first execution of a new retail concept created for Akris, a family-run fashion house founded in Switzerland in 1922.
    The Akris store is located on I St NW in the US capitalBrothers Albert and Peter Kriemler, the grandchildren of founder Alice Kriemler-Schoch, collaborated with David Chipperfield Architects Milan (DCA Milan) on the concept that debuted in DC, and has since also been applied in Tokyo.
    “DCA Milan’s design intent for the project was to enhance the materiality and fine craftsmanship of Akris collections through a solid, three-dimensional architecture associated with a light display system, defining a space where carefully chosen materials take centre stage,” said the design team.
    The boutique debuts a new design concept for the brand’s retail spacesLocated downtown, a few blocks from the White House, the boutique is lined with white-painted maple panels arranged to look like fabric pleats.

    These panels wrap three walls and also cover the ceiling, giving the impression of a room within a room.
    White-painted wood panels form pleats across the walls and ceilingGrey limestone flooring, large cylindrical columns and other surfaces continue the neutral colour palette, providing a backdrop for the brand’s bright clothing and accessories.
    Shelves, clothing rails and mirrors are suspended from thin cables connected to the ceiling or high up on the wall panels.
    Mirrors and rails are suspended from thin wiresInfluenced by the work of Italian artist Bruno Munari, the taut wires form subtle lines across the pleated panels.
    “The design references Bruno Munari’s tensile spatial structures, whose fundamental nature lies in the contrast between two opposing forces: tension and compression,” DCA Milan said.

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    To partition the space, large sheets of stainless steel mesh hang from the ceiling. Anodized aluminium counters create a flow of movement around the store.
    Ivory-coloured horsehair – a material long associated with Akris – is used on the fitting rooms walls and ceiling along with grey felt furniture, while wool carpet covers the floor.
    Lighting is hidden with the shelving displaysSpotlights installed on ceiling tracks are directed at specific products and other lighting is hidden in the shelves.
    Overall, the interior is designed to be subtle and restrained, to keep focus on the items for sale.
    David Chipperfield Architects Milan collaborated on the design concept with Albert and Peter Kriemler, the grandchildren of Akris founder Alice Kriemler-SchochBritish architect David Chipperfield founded his eponymous firm in 1984, and it has become best known for cultural venues like Berlin’s Neues Museum and Mexico City’s Museo Jumex.
    But the studio, which has offices in London, Berlin, Milan and Shanghai, also has past experience in luxury retail with projects including the New York headquarters for watch brand Rolex and a minimal Montreal boutique for fashion label Ssense.
    The photography is by Alberto Parise.

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    AvroKO draws on Korean culture for Oiji Mi restaurant in New York

    Traditional designs from Korea, from houses to hairpins, are reworked to create the interiors of this Manhattan restaurant by New York studio AvroKO.

    AvroKo, a studio that focuses on hospitality, completed Oiji Mi, an upscale Korean dining spot in the Flatiron District – an area once home to over 100 social clubs during the Gilded Age.
    Elements throughout Oiji Mi informed by traditional Korean designs include custom lighting”Oiji Mi’s design recalls these classic Manhattan social clubs through bold marbles, rich leather and velvet fabrics and dark walnut woods, but reimagines them to represent the fusion of Korean and American culture,” said the design studio.
    AvroKO based the main dining room on a hanok, a traditional Korean home dating back to the 14th century.
    Interlocking wooden beams mimic those used to build hanok housesInterlocking timber beams across the ceiling and walls mimic those used to construct the hanok, while gridded partitions echo the windows and screens found inside.

    A wooden flooring system known as daecheong runs through the restaurant, from the bar area at the front to the open dining space behind.
    The bar is located at the front of the space, while the dining area is found behindLighting is also based on the shapes and textures of Korean jewellery, and decorative hairpins called binyeo.
    Among these bespoke designs are pendants suspended straight above the tables, bead-like sconces and chandeliers that arc out from a central column.

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    “The designers also brought in elements of dansaekhwa, or the repetition of action which is known to stabilise and restore those in its presence,” AvroKO said.
    This principle is apparent in the use of textiles, such as a custom installation above the bar influenced by jogakbo, a style that uses patchwork to create flowing patterns and shapes.
    Materials like walnut and brass are used to evoke the social clubs of the Gilded AgeTabletops of walnut and marble accompany a palette of teal and claret across the walls and upholstery.
    Mirrored and tinted metal panels under the tall ceilings make the space feel larger, and also harken back to the Gilded Age clubs.
    Mirrored panels help to visually extend the dining spaceAvroKO is behind the designs of many well-known restaurants and hotels in New York City and beyond.
    The firm’s recent projects have included a members’ club in Chicago and an eatery and entertainment space in Nashville.
    The photography is by Christian Harder.

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    BAAO extends Carroll Gardens Townhouse around a magnolia tree

    A family home in Brooklyn has been extended and renovated by local studio Barker Associates Architecture Office, to expand the kitchen and create larger rooms for the daughters.

    The Carroll Gardens Townhouse, located a block away from the Gowanus Canal, was the family of four’s home for a decade before they decided they needed more space.
    BAAO extended the home in Brooklyn to create more living space on all three floorsWorking around a magnolia tree in the back yard, Barker Associates Architecture Office (BAAO) designed an extension to all three storeys that provides additional living areas both inside and out.
    At parlour level, the floor plan was opened up and storage was created through built-ins.
    A dining roon occupies the extension at parlour levelIn the lounge area, colourful decor includes a custom Bower Studios mirror that hangs above the existing marble wood-burning fireplace.

    “The finishes feature lots of vibrant colour, pattern, texture, and cozy nooks,” said the architecture studio.
    The kitchen features white lacquer and fir cabinetryThe kitchen has white lacquer and fir cabinetry to complement the pine floors, which run through the majority of the home.
    The dining table is placed in the extension, where it enjoys views of the back yard through a large window that also accommodates a built-in bench.
    At garden level, a grey felt curtain can be drawn to partition the space for guestsLinking the multiple levels, the staircase was restored and modified to fit widened openings that make the most of the skylight above the hallway on the upper floor.
    Reorganised bedrooms upstairs are now more spacious, with bright colours and patterned wallpaper used to personalise each room.
    A seating area looks onto the back yardThe parents’ suite is at the front of the building, while the daughters’ twin rooms occupy the extended volume at the back.
    At garden level, a small kitchen for entertaining joins a sunken blue-tiled living space, a home office and a pegboard wall that allows the family to organise their outdoor gear.
    The architects created a giant pegboard wall for the family to store their outdoor gearA grey felt curtain can be drawn across to separate an area for guests.
    Outdoors, a new steel staircase with wooden treads leads down from the parlor-level deck to the garden.

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    A bluestone terrace curves around the magnolia tree and is sheltered by the deck above.
    Pavers lead past planting to another seating nook, built into the cedar fencing at the back of the property.
    The extension is designed around a magnolia tree”An arborist was consulted to determine the sizing and placement of the extension, deck, and garden terrace, and a plant consultant was employed to help choose appropriate native species for the garden,” the team said.
    BAAO was founded by Alexandra Barker in 2006, and the Brooklyn studio has worked extensively in the New York borough and beyond.
    A bluestone terrace is sheltered by a deck aboveLast year, the team’s completed projects included two daycare centres: one featuring curved apertures and blue tones, and another with house-shaped openings and cheerful hues.
    The photography is by Francis Dzikowski/OTTO.
    Project credits:
    Flooring: Hudson FlooringLighting: Allied Maker, Cedar and Moss, Dutton Brown, Hand and Eye Studio, Hollis and Morris, ApparatusWallpaper: Farrow and Ball, Hygge and West, SpoonflowerTile: Cle, Complete TilePlumbing fixtures and fittings: Vola, Watermark, California Faucets, KastRugs: Aelfie, Studio Proba

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    Martin Hopp adds space-saving “micro elements” to his Manhattan apartment

    New York architect Martin Hopp aimed to make the most of his dark, irregularly shaped apartment by using lots of white and creating clever “micro elements” like a retractable dining table.

    Encompassing 700 square feet (65 square metres), the Hopp Apartment is located on the garden level of a 1930s, multi-storey building in the city’s Chelsea neighbourhood.
    The unit has various limitations and idiosyncrasies due to renovations that were made to the building’s foundation.
    Martin Hopp renovated his small, irregularly shaped Chelsea apartment”Its odd layout and challenging features of exposed foundation walls and large structural columns were further complicated by being partially submerged below grade and hemmed in by foundations,” Martin Hopp, who runs the eponymous local studio.
    “This gave the apartment a subterranean feel that only allowed for brief moments of natural daylight.”

    Hopp used white to brighten the dark basement suiteHopp set out to introduce a feeling of lightness and brightness, along with maximising space by using built-in millwork and flexible “micro-elements” that enable openness, privacy and multi-functionality.
    In the L-shaped social area – which accommodates cooking, dining and lounging – he and his team lined the walls with all-white cabinetry.
    Built into one spot is a “rotating table” that can be easily tucked away when not in use. The team also added a folding door that forms a separation between the kitchen and the rest of the room.

    Across from the dining nook is a living room with a built-in, white sofa. Between the dining and lounge space are steps to the unit’s front door, and beyond it, a wooden deck.
    The bedroom is located just off the kitchen and is fitted with simple furnishings and ample storage space. To the other side of the kitchen is a corridor that leads to a bathroom and an office space.
    The apartment features a storable tableThe bathroom features shelving and backlit glass panels that were made possible by the discovery of a two-foot-deep cavity during demolition. The discovery “gave us the opportunity to think creatively about how to use the space”, the design studio said.
    Similarly, the team got creative when designing the office, which was formerly a large closet. In addition to serving as a work area, the space now doubles as guest quarters, owing to the insertion of a Murphy bed designed by Hopp.
    The bedroom is off the main roomPrivacy is provided by sliding wooden doors, along with a pivoting door that extends across the hallway.
    “A slightly oversized closet was an opportunity to create a multi-functional space that could be guest room, home office and storage area all at the same time,” the studio said.
    A Murphy bed in the office folds down for guests”Conceived of pre-Covid, the value of the multi-functional spaces have proven invaluable.”
    In terms of materials, Hopp and his team used an abundance of white oak, which is found on the floors and walls. Only oil was used to protect the wood and enhance its grain.

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    Additional finishes in the apartment include lacquer, fabric, terrazzo, stone and metal.
    “Creative lighting strategies work as additional micro-gestures to make the space feel more functional and pleasurable,” the team added.
    The bathroom walls are filled with backlit shelvingOther small apartments with space-saving strategies include a micro apartment in Ecuador that features a central organizing element with hidden furniture, and a tiny London residence that has an elevated sleeping area wrapped in translucent panels that reference Japanese shoji screens.
    The photography is by Fei Liu.

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