Before & After: A Family of Five Thrives in This Ingenious, 366-Square-Foot Apartment in Shanghai
Three generations live harmoniously in this teensy pad thanks to hardworking storage, flexible furniture, and a zigzagging layout.
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L&M Design Lab leveraged the diagonal axis of an L-shaped, 366-square-foot flat in Shanghai to make it feel more spacious, carving out room for everyone’s hobbies—including a mini singing hall. The home, which is on the top floor of an older building, can be traversed in just 13 steps from north to south, say the designers, giving the project its name, A House Within Thirteen Steps.
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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.



