ateliercetrei, written in one word in lowercase letters, is a partnership practicing architecture, interior architecture, design, urban planning and cultural analysis bringing together academia, design research and professional practice. The one word stands for unity, while the lowercase letters are meant to offer a nod to the Bauhaus notion of a non-hierarchical language, reinforcing our ethos of democratic partnership.

ateliercetrei’s ‘thinking outside the box’ resulted in not one, but two studio apartments packed in an early 20th century, 35 sqm one room apartment. Working on such a small space meant paying attention to each and every detail, tailoring everything to the size and shape of this very particular building typology. Guests are welcomed by AE Apartment’s very small, yet very special, vestibule defined by 4 filomuro doors covered, for acoustic and aesthetic reasons, in cork tiles. The cork ‘punch’ packing the slick white door handles announces the spatial structure: two studio apartments with loft beds sharing one cool green bathroom. Two custom-made steel loft beds each cover an area dedicated to the kitchen.The latter is adapted to the dimensions of each room. In the more generous one, an island kitchen - covered in ceramic tiles - is surrounded by a storage area and a study. In the less generous room, the kitchen furniture is defined by a birch veneer backsplash and a ceramic tiles countertop. A set of MaNoOtTa take on the roles for which they were created - coffee/tea tables and stools - being able to serve several functional scenarios with help from their accessories - cork pillows and trays. Handpicked Rainforest Green marble floor tiles, carefully arranged one alongside another, contrast the perfect imperfections of the white handmade ceramic tiles. This contrast is complemented by the bespoke fluted glass shower screen and wall paneling with a custom mirror inlay for a relaxed and relaxing bathroom experience.