Reeded glass partitions, stucco walls and red walnut joinery feature in this renovation of a compact apartment in Tokyo by local studio I IN.
Created for Smarg, the renovation arm of Japanese real estate firm Goodlife, The Life concept apartment was designed to reframe the way that Japanese homeowners perceive renovated apartments.
Red walnut joinery features throughout the apartment (top and above)
"There is a common image of renovated apartments in Japan, which is not always positive," said I IN.
"The majority of people prefer new buildings and spaces because of their appearance and reinforced structures as we have earthquakes."
The kitchen cupboards are rendered in the same wood
To combat this preconception, I IN was commissioned to turn a 56-square-metre one-bed in a 1980s residential building into an understated luxury residence. Set within Tokyo's eastern Suiteng?mae neighbourhood, the flat features an open-plan layout with the kitchen, living room and bedroom all located in one connected space.
Reeded glass partitions separate the bathroom from the living area
The kitchen sits at one end of the flat while the bedroom sits at the other, with the bed hidden from view behind a built-in walnut sideboard that the architects said serves as a "soft separation". To separate these two domains, the living area was placed at the centre of the space.
I IN incorporated a palette of neutral colours and subtle textures throughout to create a light, res...