Big Little Lairs

No space? No problem. Check out these thoughtfully fitted out micro apartments that encapsulate the essence of modern living for the ultimate design inspiration.

- NIKITA NAWAWI

BRAD SWARTZ (BRAD SWARTZ ARCHITECTS)

It all began in 2014 when he experimented with his own matchbox apartment. Brad Swartz remembered looking at every small-scale flat and tiny house he could find and spending a lot of time thinking, modelling and refining the Darlinghurst apartment. A few years later, he found himself applying the same know-how, the many tricks and ideas from that project, to the Boneca apartment—a 24 m2 unit in the New South Wales’ Rushcutters Bay area.

What was it like, designing the Boneca apartment?

The Boneca apartment was really an iteration of the Darlinghurst apartment. Some of the lessons I learnt from it were refined in Boneca. It was also a real collaboration between the team and our client. We got along great; we pushed each other to keep on striving for a great project. Connecting with the client is an important aspect that we consider before taking on a project.

What was the biggest challenge you faced while working on it?

The biggest challenge in a project like this is always figuring out the priorities. You can’t have everything when you’re working with a 24 m2 space so you need to know and find a balance between what you want to maximise on and what you’re happy to compromise. From there you can drive decisions while you figure out the architecture.

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

I think a home should be a place of calm. And when you’re in the city this often means a place to escape and relax—an oasis from the bustle of the street. Consequently, this has driven our aesthetic which is minimal in materiality with clean lines throughout.

Do you think that micro-apartments are the future of real estate or housing development?