MALEVICH project by Lauri Brothers. A fresh interpretation of familiar formats

Today, interiors are expected to be human. They expect flexibility and flexibility in intertwining with the customer's lifestyle, character and preferences, even when they do not spend every day within these walls. Temporary or so-called buffer housing is no longer a rarity when the demand for suburban housing has increased, but the need to get out into the city remains. This project illustrates exactly this situation, and also demonstrates how you can decorate a "male" studio without following the stereotypes of a dark loft and brick walls.

It would be dishonest to say that the loft in this design project by Lauri Brothers was abandoned 100%. However, these elements in the visual concept of the dwelling are represented only by accents and are dispersed in functional areas, without taking over the stylistic priority. In general, the apartment is much closer to minimalism, competently complemented by accents of light and wood. The customer bought an apartment "for himself," and therefore, at the implementation stage, preference was given to exclusively high-quality materials. The result was a project with an elegant, self-sufficient character in every detail.

In the open studio spaces, the visual rhythm is based on breaks and contrasts, both color and functional

The customer is a family man. His permanent home is a country house. He needed an apartment as a "staging area" not far from work, so that he could spend the night there after a long day at work, relax with friends on weekends, or just be alone with himself. Such housing is devoid of the conventions inherent in family apartments: such as, for example, the indispensable division of space into private and shared blocks.

In the original layout, the entire apartment was divided into rooms, and the decision to abandon them in favor of a barrier-free studio space was made unanimously. The walls that separated the kitchen, bedroom, and hallway from each other were demolished. Instead, only a niche partition for the wardrobe at the entrance to the apartment and a small extension of the wall opposite to hide the end of the kitchen set were built.

The entire design project is imbued with a clear visual rhythm, and this is no accident. In apartments divided into subspaces, the architectural rhythms are set by the walls themselves and any other partitions. When it comes to open studio spaces, this task is performed by breaks and contrasts: color, texture, and function - and the project has all of these. The color scheme is based on a combination of white and graphite shades.

A striking example of such a tandem is the two-tone Interia sofa located in the very center of the living room. It is rightfully the main point of attraction in the interior. The same color sequence is repeated in the kitchen-living room space itself, where the white base color of the seating area passes into the kitchen, where black and dark stone texture prevail.

Contrasts are noticeable not only in individual objects уfurniture, but also in the zoning as such. Visually clear joints of functional spots set the tone for the entire interior

Another striking technique in the zoning of the apartment is the "bare" finish of the ceiling above the kitchen and hallway, as well as the visible wiring for ceiling spots in the same areas. While in the recreation areas the ceiling has a smooth white surface, here it is finished with decorative plaster "like concrete". At the project development stage, the designers assumed that no finishing would be needed in principle, but upon first acquaintance with the facility, it became clear that the original condition of the ceiling could hardly be called satisfactory, and the decision to use plaster to achieve the desired effect was made almost immediately.

Both obvious contrasts and connecting elements coexist in the design project, which not only support the rhythm created but also allow interior solutions of different zones to harmoniously interact with each other. The main connecting link in the visual concept of this apartment is the walnut veneer surfaces. The storage systems in the bathroom, open shelves and door gaps in the kitchen set, a dedicated part of the wall with a TV set, and finally a podium with a headboard in the bedroom area - all of them have a noble natural wood texture and thus add more sophistication and solidity to the seemingly masculine interior.

The sleeping area is not separate - on the contrary, it is located in an open niche and serves as a logical continuation of the recreation area arranged in the living room

Speaking of the podium. The sleeping area in this project deserves special attention. Since the apartment is not intended for permanent residence, it was decided not to make the sleeping area particularly private, which is why it is located in an open niche created by the redevelopment. Like the rest of the project, the sleeping area is devoid of decorative frills, and even on the contrary, it claims to be somewhat ascetic. Instead of a bed, a mattress on a podium was preferred, and the bedside table was replaced with a more non-standard solution: the designers simply expanded the headboard. The sleeping area has several lighting options: a ceiling light, bedside sconces, and an accent light located in open storage systems and hidden under the podium.

There are few wardrobes in the apartment, as there is no great need for them in such a "buffer" dwelling. The few storage systems are located in the hallway and at the end of the sleeping niche - their doors are painted white, and contrasting black handles emphasize the rhythm of the doors and thus complement the overall geometry of the interior.

Minimalist furniture, strict geometry of lines and basic color solutions in in the complex create a meditative space devoid of intrusive details

What really matters in a project is the lighting scenarios. Each zone, in addition to the ceiling light, has several lighting options that differ in temperature and intensity. This diversity allows the owner to customize the interior to suit himself and his expectations of a particular visit, whether it's watching a football match with friends, reading a book in silence, or having a party. However, despite the fact that the apartment can be designed for each of the above options, it is difficult not to notice how it invites you to relax with its entire appearance.

Minimalist furniture, strict line geometry and basic color schemes combine to create a meditative space devoid of intrusive details, filled with pure functionality. Aren't these the perfect conditions to come here after a long day of work, as it was said at the beginning, and finally exhale?

The MALEVICH project is about the severity and harmony of geometric rhythms, a restrained style, sometimes close to dark minimal, as well as barrier-free spaces that create an atmosphere of freedom and autonomy. This is a story about how welcoming, comfortable and elegant non-permanent housing can be in its laconicism.

 

Text: Daria Karapetyan

Photo: Sabuhi Novruzov