Creating JP's Little Planet
It all began with a collection of Little Prince books, explained architect Arts Serrano of one/zero: “We played around with the idea of creating JP’s own little planet within the apartment, in the same way the prince had his house-sized asteroid called B612.” From there, the design of the 24sqm/258sqft apartment evolved, becoming a customised and accommodating home to the lifestyle and personal habits of owner JP, a film director, and his dog, Pathy.
The micro apartment is set in a developing residential complex in one of metro Manila’s largest cities, Quezon City. Before the renovation, the apartment was essentially one open room, with the exception of an enclosed bathroom tucked behind the kitchenette in the entrance. The redesign shook things up a bit: the bathroom entrance was relocated, the kitchen was expanded, and, most significantly, a loft space was constructed for sleeping.
Making the Most of the Footprint
From the moment of entering, the experience of the cohesive, interconnected design is introduced. Though the entrance of the apartment is compact – with not much more than storage for frequently used shoes and an Eames hang-it-all rack for his coat, hats, and bags – the view of the open living room lures your eye through and makes the area feel bigger than it may be in reality. This is, in part, the result of the newly added loft, which lowers the ceiling over the entrance, creating what Serrano described as almost a “tunnel-like” effect pulling you toward the light. Walking through to the living room reveals the full height of the tall sloped ceiling, which they accentuated by integrating the building’s angled geometry into their design.
That is not to say that the kitchen is not worth a stop over. The new, U-shaped kitchen offers a full-sized fridge, integrated appliances, and a generous benchtop. True to the typical style of condos in the Philippines, a portable, electric cooktop was selected in lieu of a built-in one – a choice that plays into the large countertop bar. This large benchtop is able to double as a space for preparation and dining, seating up to four or five, which is perfect for someone like JP, who enjoys cooking and sharing meals with friends.
The living area is both spacious and compact, featuring a custom floor-to-ceiling unit that is divided into three vertical sections along the bottom half: the first holds the record player; the second, a niche for a large television; and the third, a fold-out desk with an overhanging LED light fixture. The upper section of the joinery unit is largely dedicated to enclosed cupboards for storing less frequently used items. JP’s two-seater sofa sits across the room and is sandwiched between a full-length mirror as well as bench-cum-ladder leading up to the loft. Serrano noted that they really liked how JP added a lot of artwork and things he liked, as it really helps to “soften” and “humanise” the look of the space – countering the tendency he feels architects sometimes have to make a space look “a bit mechanical”.
Supporting Function through Materials
The plywood-cladded walls are divided by their treatment, with the lower half painted white and the upper finished in a light stain. It helps to create some visual distinction, grounding the more functional, high-traffic lower level from the loft above. This is cemented – literally – by the custom cement flooring down below, which has metal rods inserted throughout where Serrano and his team anticipated future cracks, making it look akin to variable large-format tiles. Up top, the material choices echo the intention of making the loft a more private space for JP. Solid oak flooring lines the pathway leading into an intimate sleeping area that can be hidden behind a curtain. The bed is wrapped by cabinetry that provides ample space for JP’s extensive T-shirt collection as well as for hanging clothes, books, and other objects.
Careful choices of material and layout – “down to the last millimetre”, stressed Serrano – allowed these 24 square metres to feel much more expansive and functional, offering JP his own personalised little planet.
For more designs like this one, visit our Episodes page or get a copy of our book Reinventing Small Space Living.
