Located in an apartment building in the south of Taipei City, Taiwan, adjacent to the Jingmei River, the home’s footprint was reduced to 70sqm/753sqft to let in more light. The footprint of the mezzanine level, added by the previous owner, was reduced to open the vertical volume and ease the crow...

When it comes to designing for small footprints, architect Eleanor Peres believes in creating “spaces that work hard so that life is a little easier”. Her 27sqm/290sqft Sydney apartment exemplifies this beautifully, combining modern, artisanal upgrades with the building’s original Art Deco featur...

Function, flexibility, and fluidity guided the design of this 47sqm/505sqft apartment, nestled in an early 20th-century building within the lively Goutte d’Or district of Paris. Architect and ovo/studio–founder Bertille Bordja embraced inspiration from the existing architectural features and the ...

In smart design, the illusion of space can actually rival having the extra space itself — and this 46sqm/495sqft Madrid apartment has some tricks up its sleeve. Using carefully considered spatial strategies like floor-to-ceiling storage, mirrors (aplenty), and consistent materials, Gonzalo Pardo ...

At only 35sqm/377sqft, this Scandinavian-inspired apartment in Verona, Italy illustrates how sometimes a little imagination is all that’s needed to achieve optimised living.

Located in the bohemian Paris neighbourhood of Montmartre, a stone's throw from the historic Sacré Coeur basilica, this 37sqm/398sqft apartment ticks all the boxes needed for a bright and airy feel.

Curved features, a light colour palette, and smart furniture choices — not to mention the health...

In the enchanting neighbourhood of Madrid’s Rastro, architect Mariana de Delás’s apartment symbolises creativity and innovation.

The neighbourhood feels timeless — groups of relaxed neighbours gather on the streets and this strong community spirit has a special place in de Delás’s heart.

There are common themes in a Brad Swartz-reinvented small dwelling: a restrained palette, clever storage solutions, and a creative touch when utilising space — and the tranquil Slow Down Apartment is no exception.

The clients had briefly moved from Sydney to Brisbane during the COVID-19 pandemi...

A bare “skeleton apartment” left unfinished for over 10 years might not sound like a desirable first apartment on paper, but for architect Franco Luiz Faust, there was nothing but potential.

His vision for the 55sqm/592sqft space was a peaceful respite that would serve as a comfortable backdrop...

To create the illusion of several independent spaces in the open 58sqm/624sqft floor plan, the architects used monochrome colours to demarcate each key living area, inspired by the traditional colours of the surrounding building façades.

Each distinct area has been decorated with low-cost alumin...

When living in a city with some of the most iconic architectural monuments in the world, inspiration is not hard won. Approached with a decrepit, dark apartment dating back to the 1890s, architect Flore Gustin of Amate Architecture immediately knew her muse: Le Corbusier’s Villa La Roche. Coincid...

Making the most of space in a small footprint home is already a challenge in itself—to comfortably fit a family of five into a 28sqm/301sqft apartment is, undoubtedly, an even bigger one. Fortunately, designer Josef Karol Egwaras of Studio Josef Karol was afforded a few advantages before embarkin...

One remarkable design choice in the 56sqm/603sqft apartment is the removal of the existing terrace doors, extending the area into a bright indoor-outdoor space. With glass sliding panels surrounding the balcony rails allowing for a bird’s eye view of the lively streets down below, a sense of outd...

When Marijn Kruikemeier and his partner, Liya, discovered this narrow shell apartment devoid of the constraints of a pre-existing floor plan, they immediately knew it was their chance to "live big in a small space". Inspired by their travels through Asia, they were emboldened to resist compromise...

In the 42sqm/452sqft apartment’s design, simple materials and colours are deliberately repeated throughout, evoking a sense of cohesiveness. A mixture of curves and pastel colours complements minimalist white surfaces, creating soft transitions between spaces and a relaxing, tranquil space.

An abundance of natural light in a home has many benefits, from making a space feel larger to enhancing well-being. As a result, cultivating natural light is often a key focus for the architects and designers of small-footprint homes. In fact, it became the guiding principle architect Taïna Picho...