2018 Houses Awards: Apartment or Unit

Apartment or Unit Boneca Apartment by Brad Swartz Architects 2018 Houses Awards

Jury Comment

With a growing appetite for micro-domestic space in the residential market, this tiny renovated apartment is a timely reminder that the division and articulation of territory in the home are essential, no matter the scale. In this instance, the clear delineation between the functions of rooms and the public and private character of rooms is supported by the miniaturization of known spatial devices and practices.

While making its moves look simple, this subtle and sophisticated rethinking of an existing twenty-four- square-metre apartment is an essay in comfort, luxury and unexpected spatial depth.

Here, a singular and familiar architectural element, a sliding slatted timber screen, defines the function of the apartment at any given time. The position of this screen – there are only two – determines either a private room for sleeping or lounging, or a public room for cooking and socializing.

All the programmed spaces – bathroom, kitchen, robe, sleeping alcove – are clearly arranged into a single integrated core, yielding a living room comparable in scale to that found in a regular one-bedroom apartment.

This solution for thinking and living small is elegant, surprising and ambitious.

See full image galleries of all the winning and shortlisted projects here.

The award for Apartment or Unit is supported by Maximum.

Credits

Project
Boneca Apartment by Brad Swartz Architects
Architect
Brad Swartz Architect
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Project Team
Brad Swartz,
Consultants
Engineer ACOR
Photographer Tom Ferguson
Site Details
Project Details
Status Built
Category Residential
Type Apartments

Source

Award

Published online: 27 Jul 2018
Images: Tom Ferguson

Issue

Houses, August 2018

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