A 57-square-meter apartment in Paris’s Belleville neighborhood has been reconfigured around a central glass volume that anchors the living space. Located on the twelfth floor of a 1970s tower, the flat features a concrete structure that houses a home office and library within a wood and glass insert. The design removes dividing walls to let light reach deeper into the home, while an expansive balcony extends the living area outward toward the city.
Mathieu Durbec of MDA and Taïna Pichon of Meraki architecture restructured the floor plan to maximize exposure to the balcony-side light. By removing the wall between the kitchen and dining area and integrating storage throughout, the home becomes an open space where natural light moves freely with daily life. The team used original materials and concrete to bathe the raised home in even more sun.
The entrance features a dark-stained maritime pine wardrobe and integrated seat. This element forms part of a larger volume that extends into a multifunctional zone. The wardrobe holds outerwear essentials and hooks behind the door, while a recessed niche provides a bench for putting on shoes. Above the seat, a mirror extends to the ceiling, reflecting light from the living space and balcony. This functional vestibule sets the tone for the open layout that follows.
The former dark hallway has been transformed into a bright, multifunctional volume. Embedded glass doors form the main border of the zone, with a home office inside. The walls are wrapped in shelving for the owners, who have an extensive book collection. The shelving occupies the top half of the wall, leaving space below for furniture to move freely, including room for a guest bed. A large built-in wardrobe sits within the exposed structural concrete opposite the desk, balancing function with flexibility.
Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining area replaced a disjointed, enclosed layout with a social space. A compact island and a suspended shelf serve as both a threshold and a multi-purpose unit. The island serves as bench seating on the dining side and includes storage beneath. Above, open shelving holds more books. Placed parallel to the apartment’s existing concrete beam, the shelf appears naturally embedded. The open design lets light continue to pass through, creating a fluid connection between cooking and dining.
While the bedroom originally lacked storage, a key new element was added. A large built-in wardrobe runs along the wall opposite the windows. Mirrored doors from IKEA help the joinery visually recede while capturing daylight and views from the balcony. Reflections bounce light and the outdoors back across the room, extending sightlines and enhancing the sense of space. The tiny room once used only for the toilet was extended to fit a laundry area. Set in the darker corners of the apartment, the room is lit by fluted glass. This textured partition keeps the connection between both sides, allowing light to move freely while maintaining privacy. A vivid red wall and shelf also bring an unexpected layer of color to the functional room.
Designers often look to European cities for inspiration when tackling small-space challenges. For example, one Portuguese home packs plenty into small space while another Lisbon shop transformed into compact home demonstrates similar creative resourcefulness.
