In the heart of Amsterdam, we transformed a compact apartment into a mini loft. By treating the building’s outer shell as an empty box, we created space to define the interior not with traditional walls and doors, but with volumes and levels. Aside from the bathroom and the front door, the home no longer features any doors at all.
With this approach, Firm reimagined the space into a light-filled, open home, without compromising its historical character. The design redefines what’s spatially possible within the existing framework, connecting the newly introduced volumes through form and material. In doing so, a subtle play of structure and space emerges.
Thinking inside the box by adding new volumes and levels, results in a strong sense of spatial continuity. This design centers on vertical layering and the strategic placement of volumes to establish connections between different living areas. The mezzanine acts as an open bridge between the kitchen and the living room, creating a natural interaction between the spaces. A double-height vide along the tall façade links the two lower plateaus with the floor above, reinforcing the vertical flow. Transparency and light play a key role, with new elements and open sightlines enhancing the overall cohesion of the home.
Materiality lies at the heart of this project. Every design element is, from a certain angle, a kind of box—a clearly defined volume. But at times, these boxes are opened up or connected to other forms. In some areas, volumes are seemingly attached to, or pressed into, these boxes.
The conceptual idea of perceiving a box from all sides is further enhanced by the varied reflectivity of the different types of metal used throughout the space. A recurring question the design poses is: when are you inside a box—and when are you outside, looking in?
The kitchen embodies this question through a striking combination of materials: a volume of stone veneer paired with a box of aluminum and marble. The floor and back wall of the kitchen form the dark oak interior of the box, where the parquet flooring, laid in a grid pattern, also evokes the image of stacked boxes. A floating kitchen block appears to be affixed to a mirror-like surface, which catches light from the adjacent window and reflects it toward the dining area—creating a dynamic play of light and reflection that visually deepens the space.
Carefully selected objects, collected over the years, contribute to the home’s individuality. One standout feature is the series of custom-made perforated metal cubes. These add both structure and character, subtly defining zones while preserving openness. At their core, they embody the project’s central question: what defines a box—and when are you inside it, or looking in from the outside?
