The 15 square-meter all-white apartment designed with minimalist aesthetics and smart furniture.
A small apartment measuring 15 square meters designed by Elie Metni can be considered highly efficient for habitation. This dwelling is located on the rooftop of an old building in the heart of Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon. The architecture studio designed various living needs with smart furniture. The apartment, named Shoe Box, is a short-term rental accommodation. Due to the difficulty of finding quality accommodation, this micro-apartment has become popular for providing a comfortable place.
The entire apartment is enveloped in white with openings on various sides. This choice of color was made to create a sense of spaciousness and maximize the incoming light through the windows, which is reflected in different corners of the apartment. Inside the room, we can see the use of only a few other colors besides white: a light brown from the wood material and gray from the sofa.
The use of custom furniture in this apartment is significant due to its small size. The smart furniture designed here saves space in the apartment. The table and chairs can be extended to create a comfortable dining area and folded when not needed. Various storage spaces are integrated with other furniture pieces in the apartment.
The apartment's vision is to provide a comfortable place for visitors, accommodating up to five people and offering a sufficient sleeping space for two. Its simple and efficient design will make people inside feel more relaxed.
The apartment features an open design with a partitioned bathroom behind the kitchen area. The bathroom has a glass door as part of its layout. It includes a shower, a sit-down toilet, and a sink in a small space with frosted glass windows that maintain privacy from the outside.
At the end of the room, there's a queen-size bed equipped with a bed frame that has storage space. Below the bed, there are shelves for storing clothes and towels. An interesting feature of this bed frame is a space between the bed and the table for charging devices. This area is ideal for charging smartphones, preventing them from falling or getting lost.
Right next to the bed, there is a table that serves as a space to hang clothes. A rail is mounted on the ceiling so that residents can hang their clothes with hangers. There is also a steel lamp on the wall next to the bed, allowing residents to read a book before going to sleep.
The table next to the bed can also serve as a workspace. There is a shelf under the window used for electrical outlets, allowing visitors to charge their laptops.
The kitchen and wet area are equipped with ceramic tiles that create a geometric pattern. This mini kitchen includes a mini fridge, a washing area, drawers, and a washing machine, with a preparation and cooking area above. The kitchen's drawers and cabinets are wall-mounted, providing storage for cooking and dining utensils.
All the furniture is neatly arranged on both sides of the walls, allowing guests to move freely inside. Its compact size does not compromise the quality of the space.