This intervention explores the conversion of a former storage unit into a compact a single-bedroom apartment. Constrained by its elongated rectangular footprint and limited natural light, the design approach focused on spatial clarity, lighting design and functional integration.

The presence of a rainwater pipe crossing the space offered an opportunity rather than an obstacle. It established a natural axis of separation, around which the program was organised: social functions on one side, and bedroom and bathroom on the other.

An L-shaped custom carpentry unit serves as both spatial divider and multifunctional infrastructure, housing the kitchen, dining, and sleeping storage. This singular volume not only defines the apartment's spatial hierarchy but also consolidates essential services, allowing for an uninterrupted open-plan layout.

The material palette is deliberately minimal. Floors, walls, and ceilings are uniformly finished in a soft warm off-white, enveloping the space in a continuous, diffuse surface that amplifies light and fosters a calm, cohesive atmosphere. The aesthetic is understated yet precise, foregrounding spatial experience over ornamentation.

Bathroom access is discreetly embedded within the carpentry volume, revealed through a recessed plane that includes an oculus, drawing borrowed light to the kitchen area. Inside, the bathroom is conceived as a materially distinct enclave: locally sourced Portuguese red stone defines the skirting and shower base, offering a tactile counterpoint to the apartment’s muted palette. Handmade Zellige tiles wrap the surfaces in a subtle yet dynamic rhythm, their irregularity capturing light and animating the space. The red stone reappears as a unifying detail - framing the Zellige panel and forming a recessed niche within the shower - quietly reinforcing the project’s focus on material continuity and spatial precision.