A compact 35-square-meter apartment in Berlin has become a showcase for innovative small-space design, proving that creative solutions can transform even the tiniest living areas into functional and elegant homes. The project, completed by COES Studio in collaboration with designer and owner Guillaume Vaslin, demonstrates how careful planning and ingenuity can maximize every inch of available space.
Located on the second floor of an early 20th-century altbau building, the apartment originally featured the typical irregular geometries of its era, including fragmented rooms, poorly lit corners, and inefficient circulation patterns that made daily living challenging. The design team faced the dual challenge of creating both aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency while working within severe spatial constraints.
The renovation drew inspiration from major metropolitan areas like Paris and Tokyo, where residents have developed sophisticated approaches to small-space living through optimization and meticulous attention to detail. This cultural influence guided the architects' approach to redesigning the apartment with the primary goals of bringing order, light, and warmth to every corner while creating fluid pathways throughout the space.
At the heart of the transformation lies a continuous architectural volume running along the wall opposite the kitchen, serving as a multifunctional element that accommodates the main activities of daily life. This innovative 60-centimeter-deep structure elegantly integrates a bed, bookcase, and sofa mounted on a movable platform, all custom-designed to maximize functionality within the limited footprint.
The exterior of this architectural feature presents as a uniform wall, interrupted only by large storage spaces concealed behind an ingenious push-to-open system that maintains visual lightness and order. This solution draws inspiration from Le Corbusier's dwelling cell concept and Franco Albini's "Room for a Man," where every object has its precise place and nothing is left to chance.
The designers selected birch wood for the surfaces, which softens the overall aesthetic while reflecting natural light throughout the apartment. This material choice provides textural warmth and visual continuity that amplifies the perception of space. The renovation relies not on grandiose gestures or superfluous decorations, but rather on a careful sequence of calibrated interventions that create a subtle interplay of integration, precision, and functionality.
The kitchen received a complete transformation from its original cramped and fragmented configuration in a cluttered niche. The new design features a single block layout with opaque white upper cabinets that amplify natural light while discreetly concealing fixtures and plumbing systems. The lower section incorporates deep blue compartments that dialogue harmoniously with oak countertops, providing ample storage for appliances and utensils while adding a refined chromatic element that contrasts with the neutral upper portions.
A central covered courtyard area serves as the beating heart of domestic life, creating an open space where built-in cupboards and multifunctional furniture optimize every inch without sacrificing comfort. This central zone invites residents to live and experience the space in versatile ways, adapting to different needs throughout the day.
The project team's strategy involved intervening along the perimeter of the space, envisioning a second architectural layer capable of accommodating and organizing all primary functions. This approach eliminated the original apartment's lack of clear spatial hierarchy and inefficient use of natural light, creating a more cohesive and livable environment.
The completed apartment demonstrates that living in 35 square meters doesn't mean accepting limitations but rather discovering how intelligent design can transform minimal space into a generous and surprisingly comfortable home. Every detail tells a story of careful consideration and creative problem-solving, showing how even the smallest Berlin apartment can become an elegant, cozy, and remarkably functional living space that serves as a laboratory for innovative design ideas.
