Space is a luxury on our little red dot, and unless you have deep wallets to spare, it’s hard to solve the problem of storage shortage by simply moving to a bigger space. We have to get creative with how we optimise our spaces, a feat that has been masterfully achieved by Metre Architects in this studio condo in Bukit Panjang.
By using big “steps”, the owners have seamlessly created an all-in-one bedroom, living area, and study with plenty of storage compartments to boot – all in a compact 463sqft space. And of course, the end result is stunning. With that, let’s step inside to check out what’s in for this lovely abode.
Elevated steps with queen’s size bed, sofa & study area
Image credit: Metre Architects
Trace back in time, and you’ll realise that townhall steps are actually a fixture of grand European architecture – just picture our National Gallery, or any old-school buildings you’ve encountered in your travels.
Taking inspiration from this, the owners have spun their own modern rendition, using an assemblage of wooden planes that creates bountiful storage beneath them, while creating a sleek home that looks somewhat naturalistic.
Image credit: Metre Architects
By incorporating a set of steps along the sides, the homeowner can easily access the queen-sized bed right at the top. While this resembles a loft apartment, the other functionalities below say otherwise; you’ll find a sofa, as well as surfaces that pull double duty as both a coffee table, and a place to rest. The table is also meant to be used for working and dining.
The platform bed also lifts to reveal a tonne more storage space below.
Image credit: YouTube – Never Too Small
Image credit: Metre Architects
Right in front of the bedding-sofa monolith stands the TV console. Its organically geometric facade creates a subtle depth to the space, while maintaining stylistic similarities to the bedding structure.
There’s even more storage compartments within the console.
Image credit: Metre Architects
Image credit: Metre Architects
Kitchen & laundry area with sliding partition door
Image credit: Metre Architects
That said, not everything in the home is compacted within these elevated steps. In order to contain the smell of cooking, as well as the messiness of laundry and cleaning, a glass sliding-folding partition has been built to demarcate both areas of the home.
This shows that despite space optimisation being the goal in the home’s interior design, chores that require a bigger area to work around with are not compromised, space wise.
Image credit: Metre Architects
Studio condo in Hillion Residences with townhall steps
Very often, we hear stories of the struggles of living in a “shoebox” apartment; not only can its space constraints take a toll on the owners, the lack of affordable solutions to tackle these issues can be a real downer – that extra square footage ain’t as cheap as we’d want it to be.
Rather than let the small space suffocate them, the owners of this studio condo have proven that the opposite can be true. Not only have they effortlessly fused many functionalities into one, they’ve propelled an aesthetic that many will surely follow.
For more home inspiration:
- $80K maximalist HDB renovation in Tampines
- Faux skylight in HDB BTO
- $70K home gym BTO renovation in Tampines
Cover image adapted from: Metre Architects
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