Architect Angel Rico has transformed a small 215-square-foot (20m2) holiday apartment into a living space for a family of three. The striking apartment with sea views even has room for two overnight guests.
The family of three, including a young son, wished to have an entirely functional holiday home that would suit their everyday living needs. Angel more than delivered by making the heart of the house a transforming modular box with a fully functional kitchen, a Murphy bed, and a bookcase/storage unit.
While simple in its design, this modular box in the middle of this 20m2 apartment is the true ‘heart’ of the home. In its closed position, it’s nothing more than a seamless storage solution. However, it’s so much more. A bed, kitchen, and storage are all tucked away within it. The owner even requested a small wardrobe for long dresses, and architect Angel Rico happily obliged.
Part of the storage module pulls out of the wall and functions as a space divider. It has convenient cubbies for storage but also acts as a temporary wall for privacy and division between spaces.
The fully functional kitchen may surprise you. It has everything a family of three needs to prepare delicious meals. The cupboards with plates, cups, food, and other kitchen essentials slide in and out of place. There is also a generous sink and plenty of overhead storage. The owners did have to settle for a small hotel-style fridge, but they installed a mini fridge by the sofa in the living area for their beverages.
The kitchen is central in the apartment, adjacent to the loft bedroom area over the top of the bathroom. The bathroom is tucked away and private from the main living area.
Just looking at the storage module in this quaint apartment, you wouldn’t even know that there’s a bed hidden away. This apartment’s owners installed a convenient pull-down Murphy bed for their young son.
The family’s son loves his folding Murphy bed. It’s only pulled down at night time and remains up during the day. Once it’s pulled down, the dividing wall is also pulled into place for privacy. The son can enjoy a restful night’s slumber while his parents watch TV and relax in the living room in the other ‘wing’.
The bathroom is accessible behind a moving wall adjacent to the kitchen. It’s quaint, fresh, and modern. While there are central lights in this space, the owners also opted for separate dimmer lights and mirror lighting to make the space feel more relaxing and ‘chilled out’. The moving wall also functions as a closet, allowing for easy clothing access while showering.
A loft bedroom sits above the bathroom. This is one of the owner’s chill-out spaces after returning from a busy shift at work. She loves being able to enjoy a peaceful space with sea views. This loft also functions as a guest bedroom.
The husband in the family didn’t like the idea of sleeping in a loft bed, so the couple opted for a pull-out sofa in the living area. There’s a projector installed in the lounge, so they can watch movies from bed.
The table in the adjacent dining area takes up minimal space but can quickly extend for large family and friend functions. If the family feels like a more intimate affair, they can retreat to the balcony, where well-positioned lights shine down on the table.
Take a video tour of the small abode