A Custom Design Makes The Most Of An Irregular Apartment Floor Plan

There are times when we have to work with what we’re given and that can mean being stuck with a really difficult layout or setting. So what do you do when you have an apartment with a really odd floor plan which is almost triangular in shape? The best answer would be that you hire an architect or a design studio able to customize every little thing.

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The apartment we’re talking about is situated in Zagreb, in a 20 year old residential building and was recently redesigned by SODAarhitekti. During this process, all the walls were removed and a new organization was planned.

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The unusually-shaped floor plan inspired the team to design a sort of envelope structure which integrates numerous functions and elements and wraps around the space offering the apartment a continuous and cohesive look.

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Given the irregular floor plan, everything had to be custom designed to fit into the space. We asked the team what the biggest challenge was and how the concept for the furniture and everything else was born. This is their answer:

The biggest challenge was to find out the best possible solution to meet with the existing specific irregularity, and to solve all the details in the workshop drawings to be possible and logic.

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The kitchen and the dining area share the same zone. The interior design is simple and practical, integrating a large box shelf, numerous upper cabinets and lots of storage. The color palette is neutral and simple. Most of the furniture is white, ensuring an airy and spacious look.

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A particularly interesting detail is the fact that the radiators are not directly visible, being integrated into the custom furniture unit. This is how the designer explain this:

The radiators are hidden, but their complete functionality is ensured with the airflow through longitudinal holes in the front surfaces and also in the horizontal shelf.

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As you can see, the cabinet doors that open to reveal the radiators feature two mobile modules. We were curious about their function so we asked the team what their role was:

The two mobile modules in the kitchen/ dining space seem to be attached to the doors. Are these modules versatile or expandable? What exactly is their role in the whole interior décor?

These modules are versatile. They can easily be pulled out the „envelope“, as they are on wheels. They can function as working desks, kitchen worktop, drawers or anything else needed by the user.

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The area adjacent to the kitchen and dining zone functions as a living space. A small and comfortable sofa, a chic chair and a set of nesting coffee tables are all arranged on a sand-colored area rug. The furniture wall unit wraps around this space as well, continuing its fluid design. The window is framed by cabinetry and the narrow platform below serves as a display area for the TV.

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The sofa faces an intriguing unit built at the point where the walls meet to form a nook. The large folding doors open to reveal a sleeping area. This is where the bed is hidden together with a corner unit and two sets of small corner shelves.

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As you can see, the whole configuration is unusual and challenging. It’s why everything had to be custom designed and carefully planned.

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Important is that the interior decor is made by the user. We wanted to make the „universal“ frame and leave the user the chance to furnish the flat by herself, according to her aesthetic principles to make it feel like home.

This type of flexibility allowed this apartment to become a one-of-a-kind space, custom-tailored for its owner.