Pigeon Loft Transformation

By: Patrick Szczecina

            This week will be another case study, however it will be taking a different aspect. Instead of transformation on the exterior of the structure, the transformations occur on the interior. The thesis that I have chosen is that of transformative architecture, which utilizes building movement (walls, rooms) to create new spaces.

            The owner of this unit is Christian Schallert, the architect is Barbara Appolloni with the help of Christian. The idea was to mimic the compartments inside a boat in order to save space. The unit is only 258 square feet, and went it is not in use it is an empty space. All of the furniture is hidden either in the walls or floor. This apartment has the bare necessities that a human needs to live; kitchen space, bed space, bathroom (shower), and dining / living space. All these spaces aren’t visible when one enters the unit, besides the shower which is in the open. Starting off the bed is located underneath the balcony when not in use are steps with some cushions, in which the homeowner rolls his bed out from. The stairs that led to the balcony now become bed side tables. The following is the kitchen which is located inside the wall, with one click spring-loaded door swings open. In the kitchen is double-burner, dishwasher, sink, countertop and microwave oven. Once the meal is prepped a dining room or a place to sit is needed, which comes from the opposite wall where a table (concrete) is folded out. A chair that is sitting around the room is used as well as the stairs to the balcony. The final piece, the bathroom, is located in the far corner behind a door, which when opened reveals a toilet and sink and the required space around.

 The purpose of this case study is to show that apartments don’t NEED all that space, it is preferred to have it in the means that people want it. It shows that one space can be utilized to create different activities in the space, in this instant it was sleeping, cooking and eating. The thesis will tend to follow these ideas of hidden spaces with open areas that can transform, however it will be at a slightly larger scale (room size).

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/05/barcelona-apartment-packs-a-whole-house-into-258-square-feet/238494/