apartments Archives

Eight basement apartments that are subterranean sanctuaries

In this lookbook, we select eight apartments that prove basements are the new penthouses, from an art deco flat in Paris to a sci-fi-style hideaway in Madrid.

Often associated with limited space and poor natural light, basement homes have not always been particularly coveted.

But as the world’s cities get more expensive, busier and hotter, below-ground living can be a relatively affordable, private and temperate option.

Below are eight of the best basement apartments previously featured on Dezeen.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring cave-like interiors, residential entrance halls and pocket doors.

Bedroom in Unearthed Vault by Daab Design — Photo by Jim Stephenson

Unearthed Vault, UK, by Daab Design

Architecture studio Daab Design turned a former art storage vault in London into a two-bedroom basement flat.

Georgian period features were meticulously restored as part of the renovation and paired with a soothing colour palette of creams, greens and blues, turning what was previously a dark and cramped interior into a modern living space.

Find out more about Unearthed Vault ›

Interiors of The Whale apartment in Paris designed by Clément Lesnoff-Rocard — Photo by Simone Bossi

The Whale, France, by Clément Lesnoff-Rocard

The Whale takes its name from the huge structural elements that punctuate this home in the basement of a Parisian apartment building, which reminded architect Clément Lesnoff-Rocard of being inside an enormous animal.

Lesnoff-Rocard stripped back the apartment to reveal the chunky concrete beams, while extensive mirrored glass, brass and geometric shapes inject an understated sense of art deco.

Find out more about The Whale ›

Yurikago House by Mas-aqui — Photo by José Hevia

Yurikago House, Spain, by Mas-aqui

Architecture studio Mas-aqui used half-levels in its renovation of this semi-basement apartment in Barcelona to maximise space.

The previously unused bottom level was excavated to create a staircase down to a new guest bedroom featuring a structural arch above the bed and an exposed-concrete retaining wall.

Find out more about Yurikago House ›

Point Supreme Athens apartment — Photo by by Yiannis Hadjiaslanis (also top)

Ilioupoli Apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme

Sunken into the ground at the bottom of an apartment building in Athens, this small, one-bedroom flat was previously a storage space.

Point Supreme sought to retain the interior’s “magical-cave-like” feeling by leaving raw concrete surfaces exposed and using floor finishes, curtains and sliding partitions rather than walls to separate the space.

Find out more about Ilioupoli Apartment ›

House H in Taiwan designed by KC Design Studio — Photo by Hey! Cheese

House H, Taiwan, by KC Design Studio

The basement of House H in Taipei leans into its underground setting with a dark and moody colour palette provided by concrete flooring, loosely rendered grey plaster walls and black or grey fixtures and fittings.

To filter more natural light and fresh air into the basement, KC Design Studio carved several openings into the ceiling, accommodating a staircase and an indoor courtyard.

Find out more about House H ›

Apartment Tibbaut by Raúl Sánchez — Photo by José Hevia

Apartment Tibbaut, Spain, by Raúl Sánchez

Architect Raúl Sánchez converted a vaulted basement beneath a house in Barcelona into a subterranean apartment using curving panels of laminated pine.

The partition curls around a central living area, separating each of the rooms but stopping short of the ceiling to ensure the building’s original architecture remains visible, as well as allowing natural light to spread throughout the space.

Find out more about Apartment Tibbaut ›

Casa A12 by Lucas y Hernández-Gil — Photo by José Hevia

Casa A12, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández-Gil

This semi-basement Madrid apartment features fun, Stanley Kubrick-esque features such as shiny silver curtains, cobalt-blue accent walls and an indoor courtyard with orange grass.

Lucas y Hernández-Gil designed the space to be a “world of work and leisure” where the homeowners can escape from the street above.

Find out more about Casa A12 ›

One-room flat in Paris by Anne Rolland Architecte — Photo by Jérôme Fleurier

Studio LI, France, by Anne Rolland Architecte

A secret room sits beneath this sunken studio apartment created by Anne Rolland Architecte in a long-abandoned space in a 17th-century Parisian townhouse.

Accessed via a mechanical trapdoor and granted natural light by a window in the kitchen floor, the former slurry pit was restored to create a music room and home cinema.

Find out more about Studio LI ›

Reference

Interior Design

Six renovated Parisian apartments in historical Haussmann-era buildings

By Zarkon Group,03/06/2023

Period details are mixed with contemporary interventions inside these renovated apartments in Paris, built in the mid-19th century during Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s reconstruction of the French capital.

In his role as the prefect of the Seine département under Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann was responsible for creating the network of boulevards that still define the city’s urban landscape today.

The homogenous apartment buildings flanking these boulevards were designed to strict guidelines, all made from cream-coloured stone with a steep four-sided mansard roof and no more than six storeys.

Although Haussmann was less prescriptive about the building’s interiors, they generally feature high ceilings and parquet floors alongside elaborate mouldings and boiserie.

Read on for six examples of how architects and interior designers have brought these apartments into the 21st century, including a book lover’s loft and two flats combined to form a family home in the Marais.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bedrooms with minimalist interiors, concrete kitchens and marble-lined bathrooms.

Wood Ribbon apartment by Toledano + Architects

Original details such as parquet floors and ornate ceiling plasterwork were retained in the renovation of this apartment, which had been left largely untouched since the end of the 19th century.

But local studio Toledano + Architects tore down several partition walls to create a more open floorplan, traversed by a snaking plywood wall that roughly divides the apartment into three zones while providing tactical storage in the living room and kitchen.

“I really wanted to enhance this dichotomy between ancient and contemporary,” founder Gabrielle Toledano told Dezeen. “It’s very relevant in a city like Paris where both are in a constant dialogue.”

Find out more about Wood Ribbon apartment ›

Canal Saint-Martin apartment by Rodolphe Parente — Photo by Giulio Ghirardi

Apartment Canal Saint Martin by Rodolphe Parente

French interior designer Rodolphe Parente made only a few minor architectural interventions when overhauling this apartment in Canal Saint-Martin, exposing long sealed-off doorways and creating a hybrid dining room and kitchen.

Instead, he modernised the apartment by contrasting original details such as mouldings with unexpected contemporary details, colours and the “radical” art collection of the owner.

In the bedroom, a vivid purple rug clashes with caramel-coloured walls while in the living room, period wall panelling highlights the modernity of the sofa and the glossy coffee table.

Find out more about Apartment Canal Saint Martin ›

Apartment XIV by Studio Ravazi in Haussmann-era building — Photo by Olivier Martin Gambier

Apartment XIV by Studio Razavi

With several partition walls removed, French office Studio Razavi created a new layout for this apartment by slotting a multi-faceted furniture block made from wood-fibre panels into the remaining gaps.

Its staggered profile creates sightlines between the different areas of the house while framing some of the building’s original Hausmann-style ceiling mouldings.

Painted in a muted slate grey, the furniture block performs a different function in every room – acting as a storage cabinet in the kitchen, a TV mount in the living room and a desk in the study.

Find out more about Apartment XIV ›

Apartment Paris Marais living and dining room by Sophie Dries — Photo by Stephan Julliard

Marais apartment by Sophie Dries

Two flats become one 100-square-metre residence in this renovation project that French architect Sophie Dries completed in trendy Marais for a family of four.

Period details were painted in simple white, providing a contrast with new additions such as the Hans J Wegner chairs and the dyed linen curtains in the living room

“The Haussmannian style was refined and pared down, in order to introduce minimal lines better suited to a modern family,” Dries explained.

Find out more about Marais apartment ›

Enter the Diamond by Atelier 37.2

An additional bathroom is housed inside the three-metre-high birchwood volume at the centre of this residence in the French capital, designed by local studio Atelier 37.2.

The sharp lines of the diamond-shaped structure contrast with the apartment’s ornate ceiling mouldings and white-painted walls.

“This tension generates a fictional potential that plays with the imagination of the inhabitants,” said the studio.

Find out more about Enter the Diamond ›

Arsenal loft by h2o Architectes

This three-room loft is set inside the mansard roof of a Haussmann-era building in the Arsenale district, which originally served as servant’s quarters for the apartments below.

Parisian firm h2o Architectes opened up its floor plan to make the most of the top-floor views while installing wooden bookshelves to define different areas and house the extensive library of the apartment’s book-loving owner.

Their timber construction creates a visual connection with the original parquet floors, while the white paint used to brighten walls and other structural elements continues onto some sections of the floor.

Find out more about Arsenal loft ›

Reference

Interior Design

One Wall Street completes conversion from offices to apartments

By Zarkon Group,19/03/2023

Work to convert an art deco skyscraper from offices to residential use has completed, becoming the largest building in New York City to undergo this type of adaptive reuse.

A total of 566 homes now occupy One Wall Street, designed by Ralph Walker and completed in 1931, in Lower Manhattan’s Financial District.

Living room by FrenchCalifornia — The completion of One Wall Street’s conversion was marked by the reveal of a new model apartment

Developer Harry Macklowe of Macklowe Properties is behind the transformation, which encompasses one million square feet (92,900 square metres) of residential and 250,000 square feet (23,200 square metres) of commercial amenities.

“In the heart of the iconic financial district, One Wall Street, one of New York City’s most significant buildings, both in history and sheer size, has set the standard for residential conversions, marking yet another historic success,” said Macklowe.

Office with Lower Manhattan view — The apartment was designed by Guillaume Coutheillas of FrenchCalifornia

“The goal was to incarnate empty spaces into thoughtfully redesigned residences that will stand the test of time and continue to answer future demands of modern living.”

The building’s opening was marked by the reveal of a new model residence, designed by Guillaume Coutheillas of FrenchCalifornia.

Bedroom within FrenchCalifornia's model residence — Residence 3404 features three bedroom and multi-aspect views

Residence 3404, one of the building’s largest, includes three bedrooms and multi-aspect views of New York harbour.

Coutheillas envisioned the interiors as if Macklowe himself were to live there, blending European influences using warm neutral colours.

Sky Pool — Amenities in the tower include a “sky pool” with a glass ceiling

Many of the furniture and decor items were sourced from Mexico City studio Atra and are debuting in the space.

Other model residences completed last year were designed by Elizabeth Graziolo of Yellow House Architects and French architect and designer Cyril Vergniol.

A 6,500-square-foot (600-square-metre) co-working space available exclusively to residents and their guests was outfitted in partnership with architect Deborah Berke.

More amenity spaces cover the 38th and 39th floors, including a 75-foot (23-metre), glass-enclosed Sky Pool with a wraparound terrace, and a private restaurant, bar and dining room for residents.

One Wall Street entrance — One Wall Street was designed by Ralph Walker and completed in 1931

The Financial District, known locally as FiDi, is named for being home to the New York Stock Exchange and many global banking headquarters.

However, the area has gradually seen a rise in residential developments over the past decade.

One Wall Street art deco skyscraper — The skyscraper is the largest office building to be converted for residential use in New York City’s history

Many of Manhattan’s office buildings are still struggling with low occupancy rates following the Covid-19 pandemic, so this type of office-to-residential conversion may become more common in the near future.

The photography is by Colin Miller.

Reference

Interior Design

Ten Tokyo apartments with minimalist interior designs

By Zarkon Group,17/03/2023

Cleverly concealed kitchens and subtle wooden accents feature in our latest lookbook, which collects Tokyo apartments characterised by minimalist and serene interiors.

These apartments in Japan’s capital are united by their muted colours and an abundance of wood – elements often associated with traditional Japanese interior design.

As one of the world’s most densely populated cities, Tokyo homes often feature smaller floor plans or less natural light than those located in more spacious cities.

Architects and designers have created plenty of understated solutions to these restrictions, such as inserting space-saving storage into open-plan living areas.

From a flat informed by traditional Kyoto townhouses to an Airbnb dressed in subtle geometric furniture, here are 10 Tokyo apartments with minimalist interior designs.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring concrete bathrooms, cosy cabins and homes with elevators.

Norm Architects and Keiji Ashizawa's minimalist interior design — Image is courtesy of Norm Architects and Keiji Ashizawa Design

Kinuta Terrace by Norm Architects and Keiji Ashizawa Design

Two apartments within Tokyo’s 1980s-designed Kinuta Terrace apartment block were renovated by Norm Architects and Keiji Ashizawa Design to include more natural light.

The studios reconfigured the floor plans to form fewer but larger living spaces, which are characterised by smooth concrete, timber fixtures and sheer sandy-hued curtains.

“Nature feels integrated into the apartment from most rooms so that, when looking out into the courtyard, you can’t quite tell you’re in a city as immense as Tokyo,” said Norm Architects designer Frederik Werner.

Find out more about these Kinuta Terrace apartments ›

Minorpoet applies traditional Japanese design to a renovated apartment in Tokyo — Photo is by Satoshi Shigeta

Apartment in Kitasando by Minorpoet

This 1960s apartment contains a sleek kitchen counter and storage space concealed behind folding doors informed by traditional Japanese screens known as Byōbu.

Design studio Minorpoet took cues from traditional Kyoto townhouses for the project, which features a hidden kitchen that cannot be seen from the living room.

Minimalist furniture and finishes match the pared-back theme, including iconic Finnish architect Alvar Aalto’s stackable wooden 60 stool.

Find out more about Apartment in Kitasando ›

Shibuya Apartment 201,202 by OgawaArchitects — Photo is by Kaku Ohtaki

Airbnb apartments by Hiroyuki Ogawa Architects

Local studio Hiroyuki Ogawa Architects renovated two Airbnb apartments in Tokyo’s Shibuya ward with completely contrasting designs. One has floors and walls clad in light wood (main image), while the other pairs a plush grey carpet with dark plasterwork.

Neon lighting in the latter apartment was chosen to remind guests of the bustling city while cork stools, metallic kitchen cabinetry and charcoal-toned accents create a moody atmosphere.

Find out more about these Airbnb apartments ›

The Life concept apartment by I IN

The Life concept apartment is an understated residence set within a 1980s building by Tokyo design firm I IN. According to the studio, the project was created to encourage people to rethink renovated apartments in Japan, rather than favour newbuilds.

An open-plan living space contains a kitchen, living room and bedroom characterised by reeded glass partitions, stucco walls and luxurious red walnut joinery.

Find out more about The Life concept apartment ›

Akasaka apartment by FrontOfficeTokyo

Almost all of the walls within this 50-square-metre flat were replaced with multi-functional box units and sliding partitions to make the space feel bigger and brighter.

Local studio FrontOfficeTokyo stripped the apartment down to a single room, which features designated zones to lounge, cook, eat and sleep.

Raw and simple materials emphasise the utilitarian interior design, including exposed ceilings, pale timber floors and a corner bathroom contained in a concrete box.

Find out more about this apartment ›

Tokyo apartment by Snark Architectures — Image is courtesy of Snark Architectures

House in Chofu by Snark Architectures

Snark Architectures renovated an apartment in Chofu – a city to the west of downtown Tokyo. Located at the base of Mount Takao, the dwelling intends to mirror traditional cabins.

With an open-plan layout that references mountain huts, House in Chofu is characterised by lauan plywood cabinetry and floor-to-ceiling glazing that offers views of the surrounding scenery.

“The house is the base camp connecting mountains and cities,” Snark Architectures director Yu Yamada told Dezeen.

Find out more about House in Chofu ›

Tokyo apartment by G Studio Architects — Image is courtesy of G Studio

Tokyo Loft by G Studio Architects

Located on one of the top floors of a 1980s housing block, Tokyo Loft is short-term accommodation that intends to balance home comforts with industrial finishes.

G Studio worked with architects Teruya Kido and Suma-Saga-Fudosan to complete the interior look, which includes original sloping concrete walls that were illustrated with splashes of white paint in a nod to traditional Japanese washi paper.

Rows of skylights were added to the walls to flood the apartment with natural light, while bright orange electrical wires and plumbing features were left exposed. A freestanding bathtub adds a playful touch to the main living space.

Find out more about Tokyo Loft ›

J House by Domino Architects

Wooden panelling creates “corners, blind spots and niches” in J House – a pared-back apartment renovated to maximise restricted floor space for a growing family.

Japanese studio Domino Architects used low-cost exposed plywood for its simplicity, while rough concrete in the kitchen adds to the dwelling’s minimalist interior design.

Find out more about J House ›

Motoazabu Apartment sYms by Kiyonobu Nakagame Architect & Associates

Diagonally stepped floors and ceilings create a dynamic layout of triangular zones within a pair of apartments in Tokyo’s Motoazabu neighbourhood.

Smooth, understated concrete defines the central interior spaces, which are surrounded by kitchen worktops and glazed bathrooms.

“What we aimed to do with this structure was to create something that would blend with its surroundings and maintain absolute simplicity,” explained architect Kiyonubu Nakagame.

Find out more about Motoazabu Apartment sYms ›

Opera Apartment by Taka Shinomoto and Voar Design Haus

A material and colour palette influenced by the different shades of an Opera cake – a famed French dessert – informed the “layered” coffee-hued interiors in this apartment.

The hallway features sliding geometric cupboard doors stained in various shades of brown while a mixture of glossy, matte and textured coatings cover the white walls.

Find out more about Opera Apartment ›

Reference

Architecture

colored glass mosaics adorn ‘apartments filipovice’ in czechia

By Zarkon Group,15/02/2023

celebrating traditional morphologies in freestyle fashion

Set in the Czechian highlands of Jeseniky, the ‘Apartments Filipovice’ by Atelier CL3 Studio celebrates the region’s traditional architectural morphology in freestyle fashion. The new complex features two residential buildings designed as monolithic rectangular foundations, each clad in locally sourced larch shingles and crowned with a classic wooden gable roof. The larch cladding will naturally darken over time, allowing the built volumes to gently blend into the mountainous landscape.

Steadily contrasting the naturally greying larch shell is a mosaic of colored loggias and windows — painted blue for the first building and yellow for the second. ‘The crystalline shine of the colored glass mosaic, together with the strictly square windows of the same frame color, define the character of the buildings,’ writes CL3.

a rich material palette composing ‘apartments filipovice’ by CL3

As clearly displayed, ‘Apartments Filipovice’ relies on traditional materials, characteristic of the Jeseniky region and Czechian culture. Atelier CL3 (see more here) first erected the buildings atop strip foundations before composing each residential part as a hybrid of sand-lime brick walls and reinforced concrete ceilings. Meanwhile, larch shingles extracted from the local forest were used to clad each building exterior — ‘a free paraphrase of the façades of local barns, and gabels of residential buildings,’ continues the studio.

Indoors, the spaces take on a more contemporary and minimalist quality, with vibrant blue and yellow staircases set against a clean white backdrop. The bedrooms, however, while simple in their design, evoke the traditional barn experience, with scenic views of the pastoral landscape ahead.

‘Apartments Filipovice’ – a celebration of traditional architecture with a modern twist

Lastly, each building has been designed to be as self-sufficient as possible in respect to the mountainous environment; the only supplied utility is power. ‘Heating is based on a groundwater heat pump, common areas are equipped with air recuperation, water comes from its well with water-supplying equipment, and wastewater will be disposed to a domestic sewage treatment plant with cleaned water absorption to the ground,’ notes CL3.

a mosaic of windows and voids completes the design

Atelier CL3 clad each building in larch shingles

using yellow and blue as accent tones

colored loggias define the ground floor of each apartment building

Reference

apartments

Eight basement apartments that are subterranean sanctuaries

Six renovated Parisian apartments in historical Haussmann-era buildings

One Wall Street completes conversion from offices to apartments

Ten Tokyo apartments with minimalist interior designs

colored glass mosaics adorn ‘apartments filipovice’ in czechia

celebrating traditional morphologies in freestyle fashion

a rich material palette composing ‘apartments filipovice’ by CL3

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