A Tiny Taipei Apartment Pursues Muji-Like Minimalism For $35K
Completed on a budget of $35,000, this 355-square-foot apartment has been designed with young professionals in mind.
Nestled in a 12-story residential tower, a tiny one-bedroom apartment has been revamped by local design practice Phoebe Sayswow Architects to display how small-scale living can be effortlessly chic.
The bedroom is located on the mezzanine level.
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The real estate developer tasked the architects with designing a prototype apartment for prospective tenants. "They approached us hoping to showcase a model of smart urban living in a city with high average rents and limited land for development," explains the firm.
An opaque sliding glass door separates the bathroom from the dining area. White tile with pink-colored grout ties the two spaces together.
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The colored tile grout was sourced from Grout360. The tiles are from RAK Ceramics.
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Completed on a budget of $35,000, the prototype apartment—named the XS House—has been designed with young professionals in mind.
The living area and eat-in kitchen are separated by a level change.
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With only 355 square feet of space to work with, the architects focused on creating an open-plan layout with continuous views and a bright, airy feel. Instead of wall dividers, the designers have opted for floor-level changes to delineate the various spaces.
White walls and a partial double-height ceiling help lend a sense of spaciousness to the abode.
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The mezzanine safety railing is made thin and painted white to minimize its appearance.
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One of the key additions to the XS House was a bedroom mezzanine, which is accessible via a moving metal staircase with treads wide enough to double as informal seating.
A view from the mezzanine level to the dining table below.
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"The structure and position of the mezzanine was carefully planned to minimize its volume and visual blockage," say the architects. "The room is just too small to waste a single inch."
The apartment opens up to a small terrace through glazed doors.
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The minimal kitchen includes a sink and electric stovetop.
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The entry level features the living space and steps down to a tile-lined dining area and kitchenette, which connects to a bathroom hidden behind opaque sliding doors. Glazed doors on the far end of the apartment open up to a small terrace, letting in plenty of natural light.
Storage takes up an entire wall in the dwelling.
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The thin white staircase contains open risers to let natural light pass through.
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Taking style cues from the acclaimed Japanese lifestyle brand Muji, the tiny apartment boasts a minimalist aesthetic with a simple palette of white walls, birch plywood surfaces, and glazed white tiles with contrasting cherry-pink grout.
BoConcept furnishings have been used throughout.
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"Birch wood gives a sense of warmth, which calms people, while the white glazed tiles are about pepping up spirits and rinsing one's mind," add the architects, who wanted to give their design a touch of playfulness.
"Our intention was to create a cozy and fun living experience with no gender differences—only to serve the user's needs in a more uplifted fashion."
The stairs are mounted on wheels so that they can be moved out of the way when residents need to access storage.
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Birch plywood has been selected for the floors and storage.
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The bed, partially tucked behind a wall, is bathed in natural light from a large window.
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The minimalist built-in storage units draw inspiration from the Japanese brand MUJI.
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Here's a look at the floor plan.
Phoebe Sayswow Architects
Project Credits:
Architect of Record: Phoebe Sayswow Architects Ltd.
Builder/General Contractor: ShiMei Construction
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