This project is the designer’s personal residence, a typical urban apartment spanning 120 square meters. The layout includes three bedrooms, one bathroom, one living room, and one kitchen.
“Breaking” and “Inserting”
The original layout’s biggest challenge was having only one bathroom, which is inconvenient for multiple occupants. Moreover, most walls were load-bearing shear walls, limiting major structural changes and spatial flexibility.
Our approach involved “breaking” and “inserting” — breaking through the original restrictive room boundaries and inserting more practical functions into the newly created spaces.
We undertook four key steps in the renovation:
- Dismantled the walls of the study balcony and equipment balcony to expand usable space
- Divided the single bathroom into two separate sections
- Inserted a dry area block
- Added glass door partitions around the central kitchen
△ Plan Evolution Diagram
Open Flowing Spaces
After making the basic structural changes without altering the original shear walls, we enclosed the public areas such as the living room and study with sliding and folding doors. This maximizes openness and allows natural light, sightlines, and airflow to move freely.
A 2.4m-wide sliding door between the second bedroom and the living room can be fully opened daily to enhance spatial flow.
View of the second bedroom from the living room
The corridor between the study and dry area is separated by a sliding folding door to define the spaces.
Framed Views
To enhance visual interest within limited space, two framed views were introduced that align with the existing spatial divisions.
A black-framed view weaves through blocks of beautiful rock slabs, creating a scenic entrance area.
A black metal frame extends elegantly from the wall to the floor.
△ Consistent with the black framed views, all window frames and bay windows are wrapped in black-painted galvanized steel sheets.
A linear black metal built-in light strip is suspended on the wall, stretching from beneath the TV to the balcony exterior. This continuity softens the visual transition between the living room and balcony walls, which cannot be removed due to shear wall constraints.
Seating Everywhere
Anticipating multiple residential scenarios, we designed this home so that you can sit comfortably anywhere. Rather than relying on traditional chairs, seating is integrated into walls, bookshelves, cabinets, and balcony corners.
Storage and relaxation areas are embedded into the architecture, creating numerous spots for sitting or lying down.
The air conditioning unit was relocated to the north balcony, allowing us to insert a seat and storage cabinet where it once stood.
A sink island was installed beside the dining table for simple cleaning tasks. Adjacent to this island was a narrow, 1.34m-wide balcony, which we converted into seating with built-in storage underneath.
Near the entrance, a modular seat and bookshelf combination was added for shoe changing and book storage.
Schematic of the seat and storage module.
△ Imagining a family scene where members wash fruit, make coffee or tea in the kitchen island, while others sit nearby chatting and keeping company.
Inserted Dry Area
Without expanding the bathroom footprint, it was divided into two narrow sections, each only 920mm wide. One section serves as an auxiliary bathroom for the master bedroom, equipped with a toilet and sink. The other serves public use, featuring a shower and toilet. To address the limited washing space in the public bathroom, a dry area clad with elegant rock panels was extended outward.
The newly inserted dry area acts as a partition between the master bedroom and study.
△ Dry area corridor
A compact shower room designed to maximize a very small space.
Custom-Made Furniture
Beyond necessary furniture purchases, we designed functional modules that harmonize with the space’s materials and colors, allowing them to grow with the home. Multiple black metal storage cabinets were custom-designed.
△ Pegboard storage for hanging items combined with bookshelf.
Black metal cabinets seamlessly integrated with wooden cabinetry.
△ Medium island cabinet built into the sink.
Partial view of the master bedroom.
△ Partial view of the living room.
△ Decomposition diagram.
△ Floor plan view.
Project Information
Project Name: A Home with More Sitting Space
Designer: 0.5m Studio (Half a Meter Away from the House) Contact Email: contact@bimii.com
Project Design & Completion Year: August 2019 & January 2021
Main Creator: Wang Jiaoer
Design Team: Shen Miao
Project Location: Ningbo, Zhejiang
Floor Area: 120㎡
Photography Credit: Park Yan
Materials: Wood veneer, galvanized sheet, black metallic paint, Haijibu stone, Changhong glass, Meiyan board
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