apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Wow! Very cool.
I love the idea of diagonal lines creating the persective effect for you. It could make a place seem longer and wider than it really it at the same time, expecially if the wide opening of the diagional space starts just outside of your field of view as it appears to do in the first picture.

Also, constructing the mezzanine in the middle of the space (when so often they are at one end) is a great idea because you retain the high ceilings in the living area by the windows.

WOW
now here's the reason to have a contest

great place, eye-opening use of space and materials

Love the way the furniture is designed to fit the space, but the space feels a little cold and bare to me. I do love the painting in the bedroom, too bad there aren't more art pieces like that throughout.

i think this apartment is gorgeous, but i can't shake the feeling that it's cheating a little bit. afterall, a guest apartment doesn't have to have space to store half the stuff that accumulates during everyday life, does it? that being said, the apartment is lovely and it doesn't actually break any contest rules, so good work!

First off, I just want to say that this is amazing! The diagonals really do make this tiny space seem huge. It's a truely innovative use of space.

I'm not sure though that I could see myself living here. There are a couple elements that just give me a sense of anxiety and disquiet. One is the big unguarded hole in the bedroom/office. The other is the angle of the kitchen counter. The pointy end of the desk bothers me a little too. But I'm the kind of person who would fall through the hole and walk into the kitchen counter several times a month. This is not a space for the accident prone.

I agree its gorgeous, but also wish it showed some options for more storage as a real living space, not just for guests.

Woooooooooow - magnificent! Has the owner ever considered renting it out as a studio?

I'm not sure it makes much difference that this isn't necessarily occupied year-round. It has normal apartment features like a complete kitchen (and even utility room), and I count three decent-sized closets... so there's room to hide fairly significant stuff. Not as much stuff as I have... but stuff.

Georgia, Ditto.
Whoa, is that space by the (ouch!) pointy end of the desk really completely open?

That said, this is absolutely gorgeous and definitely in the coolest, smallest realm.

I would like to echo the "Wow". The use of the furniture to delineate space is awesome. The diagonal walls make the space much more interesting than it would have been otherwise. I hope that this one is a finalist so I can get a better look at the cabinets / counter tops in the kitchen.

I wish there was a bit more color and I agree that it would look different if someone actually lived there (i.e., there would be a shower curtain.)

Truly spectacular! I absolutely love it. Great use of angles. I hope we get to see more shots of this one. I would love to see some colorful art on that huge painted brick wall.

Excellent layout, great use of textures (variety of floor tiles, accenuatingof existing brick, steel countertop for contrast) and focusing on architectural details - window, masonry. Very good bathroom planning - maximum comfort in restricted space; I especially liked the convenience of bench and the hand-held shower. I'd love to see more of a stair, I have a feeling it adds addl' interest.

Colors look a bit too neutral to me, but that's probably part of the aesthetics. Passage between the bed and the wall is too tight, less than 2'; I would eliminate it alltogether-but again, it's a matter of personal preference.
Questions: why the platform was necessary? Pipes?And the counter profile isn't the most convenient: I wouldn't like to stare at the wall while seated.

Great work, overall.

I think it's small. I think it's cool.

I just don't think it would work as someone's home. Where on that desk does one put pens or pencils?

I love love love the use of the diagnol, definitely a show-stopper, but agree with the ouch-factor mentioned by previous posters. Do any of those corners glow in the dark when you stumble about in the dark? Certainly not a place for pets, kids, or visitors with kids.

I miss art, color, pattern, texture. Is a guest room, looks like a guest room.

Innovative and inspirational! A lot of great ideas employed here.

PS I've lived in spaces just slightly larger than this; you learn to live with less. I disagree with the detractors and find the space very livable. (Guest room status is irrelevant, imho.)

My pens, post-its, and stapler would be falling off that desk onto any pets walking by below. And I'd have to anchor the laptop to the desk somehow, if I even dared to put it there. I'd have a few major beverage and food accidents at that desk too.

I don't feel the space is lacking in art because it's architecturally such a work of art. It's a big sculpture.

I find 3 photos is just not enough. For this place, we didn't even get to see the living area. I think contestants should have submitted 4 shots.

I love this so completely it's just not even funny. The angles are so amazingly daring and beautiful that I agree with Pixie's point that it IS sculpture, and it's not rare for sculpture to allow its form to take the lead over its coloring, so one degree or other.

The pointy end of the desk looks as if you would have to be suspended in that open air to start with if you had any hope of hurting yourself on it, because it does extend over that edge. The challenge of find ways to deal with pencil rolling would be a most welcome one, if one were lucky enough to live here.

To have all of that plus all that light would be amazing. In a way, I'm kind of glad that it really is for guests, because that means that more people will get to experience this space, without having it actually be a hotel, which would mean a larger percentage of people who would be less likely to appreciate it.

I'm blown away.

Curtis,
I'm pretty sure I could stab myself on that desk AND fall over the edge. At least the desk would be something to hold onto. I'm pretty sure I'd need some guardrails. Or at least a rope hanging down from the desk. That pointy counter in the kitchen would hurt a lot as well.

I agree that the challenge of figuring out how not to have all your crap going over the edge would be worth dealing with for this space.

It would be even more likely to be hazardous if I put in that trapeze swing I've always wanted.

My jaw is still on the floor. God, money changes everything.

The space is truly amazing, and my only gripes would be so easy to fix that someone with that much money could do it in a heartbeat without losing any of the wow factor at all. Example: That stunning desk needs a lip across the back to prevent someone from having anything roll off the back and having it drop to the floor of the floor below.

That desk is gorgeous. I'm assuming the far end of the desk is open with shelves for the bedroom.

Wow.

Not sure if this has been brought up, but this guy is a licensed architect (AIA), doesn't that sort of give him, and any other architect, and advantage over the rest of us common cool-small apartment dwellers?

Lovely lovely space. Pointy pointy points. Confused confused reader. Thirteen foot ceilings, two floor levels and a mezzanine structure--how does it all fit?

Not sure if this has been brought up, but this guy is a licensed architect (AIA), doesn't that sort of give him, and any other architect, an advantage over the rest of us common cool-small apartment dwellers?

Whether to allow architects to enter has been brought up before - this year and in last year's competitions (smallest, coolest, kitchen etc) and I don't think you need to worry.

The judges can asess the entries based on whether they were done by an architect or not and last year a non-architect (patrick) won the competition despite being up against archtitects.

It's a fantastic space, and although it could use a bit of warming-up, as a guest flat perhaps it's better if it doesn't impose the owner's sensibilities on the guests. Only an architect would find a way to use forced perspective in an apartment.

Er...off topic, perhaps, but this is entry number 2; I must have missed #1, but I can't find a link to it anywhere on the contest page. Perhaps I'm just visually impaired today, but if anyone could point it out to me, that'd be swell.

i think it's a great, great use of space; the "warming up" is something that can be done by anyone living there. a big chunk of color someplace, and the whole place would change - but i could also see it livable as is.

i don't think the judges (or the site viewers) are going to make their decisions necessarily based on the architechtural merit of the place, alone.

I think this is awesome. It'd be a great single person living arrangement IMO. I just wonder about the final cost.

Dave -- the link for entry #1 is what you'll get by clicking my name. It went up this morning right before a flurry of other postings.

Brilliant use of space. It's almost vertiginously thrilling. I want to dangle my legs over that ledge.

Allow me to give the highest possible praise (within the ironic parameters of this contest): No DWR certificates needed here. ;-)

This is gorgeous, but because it's a guest house, I have a hard time putting it in context with the rest of the contest. And does it really support the theme of the contest??? Not in my book, but awesome look nonetheless.

I like it but how many coats of paint are on that brick?

I guess this is supposed to be architecturally stunning, but I'm just a plain girl and I like to feel comfortable when I visit somebody. This isn't comforting; it's downright threatening. If those pointy edges didn't get me, that hole in the floor would. Nor would I like to sleep under a stylized painting of Satan, sorry. I would spend more time learning how to navigate the place than I would spend in actual visiting with the owner. Maybe the architect ought to live there himself.

If there was a giant cushy bean bag type chair right under the opening, so you could wake up and just jump off into the kitchen!! Then we wouldn't need coffee in the morning. I like it but I don't know that you could rent it out because it wouldn't meet code under inspection. oh oh, trampoline!

Love this. Would live in this.

The "hole" is essential to keeping great light in the foyer, which would be important to me. I think I could remember, as I do with stairwells, not to walk over the edge. also, there are these things called pencil holders that you sit on your desk to keep pencils/pens from rolling around, but since this is not a boat, what is all the worry about things rolling off?

The white/light in this space really makes it feel good to me, and getting away from the boxy with the diagonals is smart and creative.

P.S. Sweet sink!

Wayne, tell me about that fabulous looking shower curtain rod! Where'd you get it?

I love reading all these comments about the apartment. Great insight but I will have you all know it is the most comfortable, warm, and functional space I've ever lived in. Yes, I live here, I'm Wayne's permanent guest.
The pointy edge to the desk is not in a place where you would ever run into it, and you all know if you level a surface, objects like pencils won't run off on to the floor, person, or pet below. By the way, I think it would be a never ending playground for a cat.

Brian - thanks for the compliment - the rod came from a plumbing supply store and is a standard tub/shower rod cut down to length with a standard ceiling mounted rod support also cut to length

I am so glad we got two more pics on this one! That staircase is unbelievable. Wow! I also love the ledge for the tv.

Oooo--2 new photos. Love it even more. Tantalizing, want to see more. The new upstairs shot gives a hint of the storage. It looks like there's quite a bit from the floor plan.

Doug, yes, cat playground!

Marc, good thought about the bean bag to jump into. This space really inspires those kind of thoughts, such visualizing my fantasy trapeze swing here.

Beautiful new photos. Being the klutz I am, I'd be afraid living here, though. I'd have to wear one of those "I've fallen and can't get up" things!

In an apartment where a picture of that fabulous of a stairway was deemed to not be one of the obvious choices for the first three pictures, that really says a lot about how insanely gorgeous the whole apartment really is. I mean, really. No. Really. No. Seriously. Sculptural and beautiful.

Curtis, you took the words right out of my mouth (I guess it's more text/fingers, really)

Wow, what a staircase.

Has anyone ever been IN this apartment? I mean, my place is super tidy. I'm a bit of a neat-freak. But this place doesn't look like anyone's ever been there.

Still, wow wow wow. This apartment is a thing of beauty.

SO RAD. I hope you win!

Oooooooh... that staircase... oh my!

It's not my lifestyle (the cats would hurl each other from the loft), but the bareness doesn't bug me in this one, as it's clear that there's storage in the places where a person needs to have basic functional stuff.

Like the use of space, but the design aesthetic - choice of colors (esp. in bathroom) look somehow very 80's to me. And not in a good way.

This is a dope pad, but in what world is this considered a small apartment? You could easily fit 10 of my place in here.

WOW! I wish I could afford such a space. It's very, very nice! I love the bathroom, but wouldn't want to keep that mirror by the shower clean.

pro or not, that is a sweet design. I'm suprised no one mentioned the sink, which I think is a nice choice. The stairs definately are a defining area of the space. The use of angles to change a person's perspective of the room is awesome. I think this would be perfect for someone who has late nights at the office, wants to just crash in the city without having to trek all the way home.

-t

Simply beautiful. I LOVE it, LOVE it, LOVE it!!! Perfection!!!!
Michael Bonfiglio

Perfect and wonderful details and use of space. Materials are elegant and understated.

This is another example of your ability and committment to excellence!

a really great, simple, open space. i love the dark colors and all of varieties of tiles in the bath. i would never do that but it works here.

This place is trly amazing and I love that a bold design element was chosen and used throughout the apartment. Amazing sense of design and use of space. As much as I love it, I think my ordered mind would go berzerk trying to reconcile all of those angles going every which way. 0.o

The angular theme really makes this apartment striking.

Nice place.

How many people have mentioned where to put your pencil... Look in the photo, there is a pen/pencil holder on the top shelf, just to the right of the chair sitting at the desk. Go ahead, scroll yourself back up to the very first photo. It's sitting right there.

Absolutely fabulous! It's like a puzzle that fits together with the whole being even better than the sum of its wonderfully innovative parts. This is a perfect example of a typically European size apartment provided with a marvelous American sense of light and space. Ingenious!

Wait'll that sharp corner of the table you designed coincides with your groin while running in the corridor you dork!

Hi Wayne,

We're interested in your space & would love to talk to you about our HGTV show, "Small Space, Big Style". Would you be able to email us at smallspaces@brainbox.tv so we can get in touch with you?

thanks!
Sage.

FANTASTICO!!!--Your use of the space is perfection------green with envy and you should be tops in this contest

A great example of your training and talent. Perfect use of space, and of "design-for- purpose". I do feel that this contest is comparing apples and oranges -- professionals and just folks, multiple home owners and poor students. But this is impressive any way you look at it.

Wayne, if you don't mind telling, could you let me know what neighborhood in Chicago is that this is in? Thanks!

oops, extra "is".

Anna - south Logan Sq neighborhood, near fullerton and california
thanks for your interest

I usually prefer a softer style, but I really like this place with. The geometry looks awesome.

Damn, what a place! I want to live there.

This is such a comparison with #38: Grace's Olympia Studio. So different from one another. I wrote on the Olympia Studio that people shouldn't judge something by money or snobbishness, and I very much mean that. This is wonderful to me because it's imaginative and just, well, different. And Doug, the tenant, says this is livable. Like Grace's space. Wish you could both win the competition.

Great work, Wayne! The angles make the space appear much more, well, spacious. The stairway is daring. I love the bathroom. And the best part, it's got closets!

I dunno, I don't get the hub-bub here.

The use of space is cool, but the aesthetics - it seems borderline 80's to me & not in a good way. Throw up a Nagel print and you've got a Miami Vice moment.

I think this may be one of the top three or four in the whole contest. The vertical sense of space is neat. Haley, didn't you know parachute pants & Nagel prints are coming back into fashion?;)

This place IS amazing.
I have been inside it and seen it first hand.
The way it is designed, one forgets it is as small as it is.
BTW- I lived down the hall from this Architect and was always impressed with his work and ideas.

T&B&MH

Perfection. Any idea what the price tag for this transformation is???

Excellent! Innovative, intelligent design. I'm 6'5" and wonder if I'd 'fit' . . . but that doen't detract from the effort.

Very nice!! This one could be a winner.

Gorgeous apartment.
We agree cleanest diagonal lines creats greatest impression of larger space.
However a photo of a stuffed cat, could be mistaken for a live one.
Initial impressions from a photo need not be real, so we need an invitation to afternoon tea to judge from closer.

Wow, this is the winner for me. Totally livable, and I keep looking and looking at the photos...feels sooo spacious. The use of space is phenomenal!

I judge a place by the question "Could I live and be happy here?" The answer here is an absolute YES! It is clean, uncluttered, peaceful and giving me lots of good ideas for my next remodel!

So flippin cool. This would make me want to come home early every night! You architects, you!

I'm loving everything about this apartment.

Wayne, love it. Question about the stairs. I see cantilevered stairs from time to time, mainly in design catalogues (the Poliform catalogue has one in the background). I'm assuming there is some kind of steel support behind the wall, and you slide the treads onto them. Am I correct? If not, how are they constructed? Thanks

Greeps - the treads are 1 1/2" thick mdf with poplar edges - the stringers are each from 2X12 construction lumber 16" apart (standard stair construction) - the treads are glued and screwed on from the underside to the stringers and the mdf risers.