A tiny 377-square-foot apartment in Berlin's Kreuzberg district proves that size doesn't matter when every detail tells a story of intelligence, ingenuity, and careful attention to design. The compact space, renovated by COES Studio in collaboration with designer and owner Guillaume Vaslin, transforms limitations into opportunities through creative solutions and meticulous planning.
Located on the first floor of an old building, the apartment originally retained the irregular geometries typical of early 20th-century construction. It featured fragmented rooms, poorly lit corners, and inefficient circulation patterns that made daily use difficult. The project's challenge was not only aesthetic but also deeply functional: redefining the space, creating fluid pathways, and maximizing every corner to multiply the perception of space.
Architects Cristina Iore and Gabriele Gagliardi from COES Studio drew inspiration from cities like Paris and Tokyo, where the ability to live well in restricted spaces has developed a culture of optimization and attention to detail. The renovation redesigned the apartment with the goal of bringing order, light, and warmth, transforming every square inch into a more harmonious living experience.
Every choice in the design was studied to make the environment more welcoming and functional, from reflective surfaces to furniture arrangement and integrated storage systems. All elements contribute to creating a balance between aesthetics and practicality. Living in 377 square feet doesn't mean limiting oneself – it's about discovering how ingenuity and design can transform even the smallest spaces into generous and surprisingly livable homes.
At the heart of the project lies a continuous architectural volume that runs along the wall opposite the kitchen, designed as a true multifunctional element capable of accommodating the main activities of daily life. With its 24-inch depth, this "second layer" elegantly integrates a bed, bookshelf, and sofa on a mobile platform. The exterior presents itself as a uniform wall, interrupted only by large storage spaces concealed through an ingenious "push and open" system that maintains order and visual lightness.
This solution recalls Le Corbusier's "housing unit" and the poetic functionality of Franco Albini's "Room for a Man," where every object has its precise place and nothing is left to chance. The bed, bookshelf, and sofa, all positioned on the mobile platform, were custom-designed to maximize functionality while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
The birch wood used for the surfaces softens the ensemble and reflects natural light that flows through the apartment, providing material warmth and visual continuity that amplifies the perception of space. There are no grandiose gestures or superfluous decorations, but rather a meticulous sequence of calibrated interventions. "It's a subtle game of integration, precision, and functionality that makes every daily movement natural, harmonious, and even pleasant," the designers explain.
Sitting on the sofa, opening a hidden cabinet, or browsing a book on the shelves becomes a simple gesture, yet one capable of telling the story of the project's intelligence and refinement. Even the smallest detail contributes to creating a complete living experience where form follows function in the most elegant way possible.
The kitchen, once cramped and fragmented in a disorganized niche, was also entirely reimagined and transformed into a single block. The matte white upper elements not only amplify natural light but also discreetly conceal installations and pipes, creating an effect of lightness and visual cleanliness. In the lower section, intense blue compartments dialogue harmoniously with oak work surfaces, offering vast storage space for appliances and utensils while adding a refined chromatic touch that contrasts with the neutrality of the upper wall.
This mini-kitchen includes extensive storage space for appliances and utensils, proving that even the most compact spaces can be highly functional when thoughtfully designed. Every inch serves a purpose, from the integrated dishwasher to the carefully planned counter space that doubles as a dining area.
At the center of the apartment opens a true "interior plaza," a free space that becomes the beating heart of domestic life. Every element, from integrated wardrobes to multifunctional furniture, is designed to optimize every inch without sacrificing comfort, with solutions that invite living and experiencing the space in a versatile manner. This central area serves multiple purposes throughout the day, adapting to the owner's changing needs.
The result is an apartment that, despite its reduced dimensions, conveys a sense of harmony, elegance, and practicality. It transforms into a small laboratory of ideas where design is not just aesthetic but a true strategy for better living. In these 377 square feet, every detail tells a story of intelligence, ingenuity, and attention to the art of living well in small spaces.
The project demonstrates that compact living doesn't require compromise when approached with creativity and precision. The continuous architectural layer running along the wall opposite the kitchen serves as the apartment's organizing principle, housing all major functions while maintaining visual coherence. This approach to micro-living offers lessons for urban dwellers worldwide who face similar space constraints but refuse to sacrifice quality of life.
