A compact one-bedroom apartment designed as an intimate urban retreat. Through color, curved geometries, and spatial sequencing, the project transforms a small surface into a rich domestic experience focused on calmness, flexibility, and emotional perception.

Bilo Blu is a small-scale residential project located in Sesto Fiorentino, on the outskirts of Florence, within a quiet and visually neutral urban context shaped by the historical traces of Roman centuriation.

The intervention originates from the subdivision of a 93 sqm apartment into two independent units. The design focuses on the smaller one—a 39.75 sqm apartment conceived not simply as a rental unit, but as a compact and atmospheric living space.

The client’s request combined emotional and practical needs: to create a place capable of evoking a sense of calm and identity, while accommodating all essential domestic functions within a limited footprint.

The layout includes an open-plan living area with kitchen, a generously proportioned bedroom featuring custom storage and a dedicated smart-working corner, and a fully equipped bathroom. A central corridor plays a key spatial role, organizing movement and gradually revealing the different areas of the house.

The design is driven by the idea of slowing down. Curved geometries soften transitions and create a more intimate spatial experience, while thresholds and passages define a sequence of discovery throughout the apartment.

Color becomes a narrative tool. A deep blue tone marks the living space, evoking calmness and introspection, followed by warmer and more earthy tones that gradually intensify toward the private areas. The palette creates a subtle emotional progression, enhancing the perception of space.

Despite its compact size, the project aims to offer a complete and memorable domestic experience—an environment designed to provide a moment of pause within the rhythm of everyday life.

The project adopts a focused approach to sustainability through conscious material choices and the use of natural light as a primary design element.

Low-impact finishes were selected, including paints by Ting Paint, featuring LEED-compliant and GREENiTOP-certified formulations.

Natural light plays a key role in enhancing spatial quality and reducing reliance on artificial lighting, contributing to both environmental performance and overall comfort.

The compact layout and integrated storage solutions further support an efficient use of space and resources.