From a mini-fridge to a folding desk and a concealed make-up mirror, this compact London apartment designed by local firm MWAI features a variety of space-saving solutions.
Commissioned by a busy, professional client who works internationally, the architects were asked to transform a 37-square-metre, one-bedroom apartment in a Mayfair mansion block into a minimalist "pied-à-terre".
Top image: an open-plan area includes the kitchen, living room and workspace. Above: neutral colours were used throughout
"We thought accommodating sleeping, living, dining and working in a 37-square-metre apartment while also delivering the feel of a spacious interior was a very challenging brief," said the practice.
"We decided we should not look at it like a residential project but rather like a hotel suite, where all functions are carefully and discreetly planned to provide a functional response to business and leisure travelling needs." The apartment's built-in storage includes a folding desk
Finished in a palette of natural materials like wood and stone, the apartment features an abundance of bespoke, built-in storage.
According to MWAI, the main challenge was to maximise the limited amount of useable space in the apartment. Restricted by sloping ceilings, the apartment had a poor existing layout and was in need of renovation.
Walls in the bedroom are painted grey
In order to create a more efficient footprint in the London apartment, the practice began by remo...