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These Rotterdam Apartments Put the Average Student Dorm to ShameView 9 Photos

These Rotterdam Apartments Put the Average Student Dorm to Shame

Inspired by the tiny house movement, Standard Studio turns 194-square-foot offices into freshman housing at Erasmus University in the Netherlands.
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Tapped to convert an office building into 218 student apartments for Erasmus University in Rotterdam, South Holland, Amsterdam–based Standard Studio faced the challenge of turning 194 square feet into a comfortable student home.

Each tiny home needed to contain a toilet, shower, vanity, kitchen, dining table, desk, couch, queen-sized bed, as well as ample storage space. "To be able to accommodate this, the furniture has dual functionalities, and the room height is used to the maximum," say the designers.

The bed is attached to the ceiling and hangs on a platform two meters above the floor. Elevating the bed allows the main living areas and storage to be tucked below.

The bed is attached to the ceiling and hangs on a platform two meters above the floor. Elevating the bed allows the main living areas and storage to be tucked below.

A simple desk area merges with a built-in sofa, which includes storage beneath it. The wood components in the units are bamboo, chosen for its durability and warmth.

A simple desk area merges with a built-in sofa, which includes storage beneath it. The wood components in the units are bamboo, chosen for its durability and warmth.

The stair railing becomes a picture ledge.

The stair railing becomes a picture ledge.

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The staircase leading to the bed also functions as a large wardrobe.

The staircase leading to the bed also functions as a large wardrobe.

The centrally located sink does double duty. On the kitchen side, a suspended chalkboard for notes hovers above it. Similar tile in the kitchen backsplash and shower creates continuity. Note the tiny cooktop with integrated, exposed venting above it, which syncs with the industrial concrete on the floor and ceiling.

The centrally located sink does double duty. On the kitchen side, a suspended chalkboard for notes hovers above it. Similar tile in the kitchen backsplash and shower creates continuity. Note the tiny cooktop with integrated, exposed venting above it, which syncs with the industrial concrete on the floor and ceiling.

On the bathroom side of the sink, there's a vanity mirror.

On the bathroom side of the sink, there's a vanity mirror.

Tidy closet storage frames the entry to the apartment.

Tidy closet storage frames the entry to the apartment.

Freestanding furniture with thin metal legs doesn't clutter the small space.

Freestanding furniture with thin metal legs doesn't clutter the small space.

Project Credits:

Architect: Wilsum & van Loon

Builder: DuPrie bouw & ontwikkeling / Smeulders Interieurgroep

Interior Design: Standard Studio

Furniture: Fest Amsterdam

Photography: Wouter van der Sar

Melissa Dalton
Dwell Contributor
Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon, who has been writing for Dwell since 2017. Read more of her work about design and architecture at melissadalton.net.

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