Reorganised small studio apartment achieves bathroom privacy

Having the bath in full view as you enter your apartment might not be the ideal for everyone. But that was the set-up in this 22m² studio, until a makeover by Architect Prineas reconfigured the space, adding privacy and practicality to the bathroom.

The original studio had suffered from poor planning including an over-size, under-utilised entry, a kitchen set along the studio's only window wall and a lack of definition across the sleeping and living spaces, says principal Eva-Marie Prineas.

For this comprehensive renovation, the owner brief included improving the function and flow of the space while at the same time preserving the apartment's original Art Deco fabric.

"Rearranging the studio's entry and living spaces was integral to avoiding the bathroom being on view on arrival.

A plywood platform was designed to sit within the existing envelope of the studio, utilising the generous ceiling height to create a level change that helps define new living and sleeping zones.

The change in level created by the new bed platform was an essential factor in the re-planning of the apartment's amenities.

"The bathroom floor level was raised to match that of the bed platform, allowing the kitchenette's plumbing to be relocated from it's original position to the entry space," Prineas says.

The length of the original bathroom was slightly reduced to gain more space for the kitchenette's new position in the entry. A floating batten timber floor and ceiling creates the illusion of depth and space and extends the aesthetics of the living and sleeping areas into the bathroom.

The custom timber battens are rounded in profile and produce a sense of warmth and tactility underfoot, helping give the new bathroom the look and feel of a sauna.

Bespoke black steel elements in the studio modern iterations of the Deco style extend into the bathroom through the black fittings and a custom black shelf.

"The entry to the reconfigured studio now opens to the kitchen, with the bathroom accessed via the sleeping area," says the architect.

Story by: Charles Moxham

Photography by: Chris Warnes