Architecture studio ōno studio has transformed a tiny 301-square-foot (28 square meter) studio apartment in Paris's 10th arrondissement into a fluid, luminous living space driven by architectural vision. The minimalist design showcases polished concrete surfaces and graphic elements that maximize both light and functionality in the compact Oberkampf neighborhood unit.
For his first property purchase, the apartment owner chose a distinctly 1970s building in the 10th arrondissement, featuring a grand lobby with wood and green marble finishes, oval-shaped openings, and a sculptural staircase. Most importantly, the unit offers an unobstructed view of the sky—a rare feature in Paris that became the driving force behind ōno studio's design approach.
Architects Emma Collet and Thomas Diettert, who founded ōno studio, applied their structural training to create an ultra-designed, airy apartment layout. "The goal was to integrate all functions into a completely open 28-square-meter studio," they explained. Their architectural background, which they playfully call a "professional deformation," enabled them to organize the space in a highly structured yet flowing manner.
The duo decided to remove as many walls as possible to allow natural light to penetrate every corner of the apartment. The studio opens onto an entrance area leading to the bathroom, with the remaining space divided into a perfect square that houses four distinct zones: kitchen, dining room-office area, living room, and bedroom. Each quadrant serves a specific function while maintaining visual connectivity throughout.
The kitchen area doubles as a circulation space, breaking away from traditional fixed-function room concepts. "It's not a static space—it's a space you enter through. You don't just go there to cook, as was initially the case," the architects noted. A bed-wall element separates the kitchen from the sleeping area, embodying the "architectonic" vision deployed throughout the apartment.
This architectonic approach ensures that all spaces flow together despite serving separate functions. "We wanted everything to connect between these spaces that are already open to each other but have separate functions," Collet and Diettert explained. "Things are designed but have a function. It's a bed step that becomes a living room bench, for example. It's thought of like a model, a village, where structure becomes function."
The apartment's layout creates a seamless transition where the bench becomes a low wall, which becomes a step, which becomes the bed platform, which then flows toward the kitchen. A curtain and low wall separate the dining area from the bed, while maintaining visual continuity throughout the space.
To maximize natural light, the architects prioritized low furniture throughout the apartment—a somewhat radical choice for a small space where every inch typically needs optimization. "Especially since 1970s apartments don't have very high ceilings. Here, we have 2.5 meters (about 8.2 feet). It quickly becomes oppressive to bring a tall column into such a space," they explained.
Recognizing the storage limitations this choice created, the team negotiated with their client and added a full-height dressing room behind concealed walls near the kitchen. The dining-office area, positioned under the window to maximize daylight, separates the two functions requested by the owner: a dining space and a retractable desk built into a custom storage cabinet.
"He wanted, in this restricted volume, a place to work from home that wouldn't be the same place where he eats. Here, he can store his computer in the evening by closing the cabinet door," the architects noted. They also installed a mirror facing the bay window to reflect both natural light and the unobstructed view throughout the other spaces.
The material palette embraces minimalism to maintain visual clarity throughout the compact volume. The design uses only three main materials: polished concrete flooring that extends up the kitchen wall as a backsplash, wood paneling that separates the sleeping area from the kitchen, and the backsplash material that provides gentle texture while extending slightly beyond the kitchen boundaries.
Ceramic wall sconces, shelving, and deliberately exposed twisted electrical wires were added to enhance the otherwise spare interior. The architects chose to make these functional elements visible as part of the overall aesthetic rather than hiding them within the walls.
The bathroom, located in the entrance area, features the same polished concrete as the main living space but introduces dark green glass tile—"a somewhat '70s green," as the architects describe it. This color choice creates contrast with the concrete's minerality while echoing the green marble in the building's entrance lobby.
"This entrance is totally dark without natural light. We like to play with contrast, and here, you arrive in a dark room that extends the somewhat cryptic 'Shining' atmosphere of the common areas, and when you open the curtain, the space is bathed in light," they explained. This dramatic transition from darkness to light likely makes this 301-square-foot studio the most distinctive unit in the entire building.
The project demonstrates how thoughtful architectural intervention can transform even the smallest urban spaces into highly functional, aesthetically sophisticated homes. By prioritizing light, flow, and multi-functional design elements, ōno studio created a living space that feels far larger than its modest square footage suggests, proving that good design can overcome the constraints of compact city living.
