Within the coronary heart of Madrid lies a small minimalist condominium, the mind baby of architect and designer couple Matteo Ferrari and Carlota Gallo. ‘Casa Olivar’ is filled with ingenious small house options (together with a hammock in the lounge) that permit for a minimalist fashion on this tiny house.
Rescued from a ruined state, the split-level condominium has seen an entire transformation right into a tranquil house outlined by impartial minimalism. Matteo and Carlota aimed to enhance pure gentle by way of their design and made use of native craft supplies that spoke to the residences heritage. Collectively, these components give the house the sensation of being a rural retreat proper within the metropolis middle.
‘As a self-commissioned mission, the consequence needed to be an expression of who we’re,’ Matteo tells us. ‘We’re each designers with a particular curiosity in structure and the style business, however we could not neglect that we’re firstly two individuals who take pleasure in spending high quality time collectively. For that reason our home needed to be conceived as a sensorial refuge, a non-urban house to get away from the hustle and bustle of the town.’
Lilith is an knowledgeable at following information and traits the world over of inside design. She has an eye fixed for interesting designs and fascinating areas which she commonly shares with readers by way of house excursions, resembling this one. After chatting with the architect/designer couple behind the mission, she was eager to share their classes on maximizing house by way of design by way of their minimalistic Madrid condominium
Proving that restricted house isn’t any match for this couple, the kitchen options deep stainless steal cupboard drawers under the countertop, with open shelving above to showcase their minimalist inside design fashion.
The kitchen storage items are used to cover the home equipment and utensils most of us usually have on present. In a small house, too many objects would look cluttered, so Matteo and Carlota ensured there was sufficient house for his or her necessities, pairing a minimalist fashion with performance.
‘I imagine that design has to supply a solution to all completely different wants, however on the identical time train easy methods to reside within the house based mostly on its structure,’ says Matteo, founding father of Matteo Ferrari studio (opens in new tab). ‘Me and Carlota are each busy, typically disorderly folks, however we’re connected to our private belongings; for that reason we’ve got adopted design options that power us to take care of a psychological and visible order in on a regular basis use.’
The open plan structure opens onto a dwelling space by way of partition partitions. Pure stone was recovered throughout the renovation work and have been put to make use of all through the house to create low tables and show stands, contributing to the impartial shade scheme. Nestled below the floating desk house, these stands do not detract from the out there flooring house.
Introducing completely different textures, supplies and uncooked tones is certainly one of Matteo’s small house design secrets and techniques. There is not any sacrificing selection and visible curiosity on account of the restricted house out there. ‘On this mission we needed to maximize spatial notion with a couple of components resembling materiality and pure gentle,’ Matteo explains. ‘They’re essentially the most important instruments in an architect’s hand: complementary and mutually strengthening.
An arched doorway leads on to the lavatory the place ochre colours and a fragile bathe curtain deliver a way of heat and dynamism to the house. The handmade terracotta tiles give continuity between the completely different rooms, masking the ground and partitions of the lavatory for a contemporary rustic really feel. Utilized in varied codecs and sizes, they enrich the spatial notion whereas providing a impartial backdrop that provides the phantasm of higher house.
Stream is created between the rooms due to the open floorplan, additionally contributing to extra open and ethereal really feel, whereas the central partition permits them to nonetheless act as distinctive areas in their very own proper. Two arched doorways are shaped consequently, mimicking the normal Mediterranean heritage of the constructing.
‘It was clear to us that completely different makes use of needed to be effectively allotted and outlined with out sectioning the out there space,’ Matteo notes. ‘Now we have achieved this by way of the usage of architectural transition options that permit the sensation of open house by way of visible and lighting connection between the completely different rooms.’
Probably the cleverest small front room resolution we have seen is the usage of a hammock. Extending between opposing corners, it presents stress-free seating such as you’ve by no means seen earlier than, stretching your complete floorspace. And but, being fully removable, it could additionally grasp on a hook on the wall when not in use to unencumber house.
‘The selection to incorporate a hammock brings again recollections of outside areas and a extra relaxed use of the lounge,’ Matteo says. ‘Alternatively, it’s a particularly versatile and really helpful resolution for such a small flat. When closed, it turns into an ornamental aspect; when open, it integrates and expands the seating areas along with the couch. And I guarantee you, it is a very nice vibe when internet hosting friends.’ Or, for those who’re something like us, good for whiling the hours away with a superb guide!
