Italian Architect Fits Luxury Into 270 Square Feet
A bed that rises when not in use and other flexible features turn a tiny apartment into a convenient vacation home
Architect Renato Arrigo designed a home away from home in a 270-square-foot upper-story apartment in Taormina, a small town on Sicily’s east coast that’s known for its beaches and a Greek theater dating to the third century B.C. The home is equipped with all (or almost all) the conveniences his family of four could need. The main theme of Arrigo’s project is the flexibility of each element: Features disappear, transform, extend and create an inviting space for family and friends while being both beautiful and functional.
Renato Arrigo and Nathalie Morey are pictured in the bedroom area of their apartment.
When client and designer are the same person, there are many opportunities to try out different solutions so that imagination can turn into reality. “We definitely had little space and many challenges to face,” Arrigo says. “The risk was to privilege functionality while losing sight of aesthetics — for example, filling the home with domestic appliances.” The real difficulty was combining minimalism with convenience.
“We overcame this challenge thanks to two fundamental inventions. The first one is the bed, which allows the living space to be doubled. A simple winch system, totally integrated into the false ceiling, lifts the bed base and frees up the room,” he says.
The bed, made of natural birch and fitted with a futon, is extremely light, so there was no need to reinforce the ceiling. When it’s time to sleep, Arrigo simply lowers it to the floor with the help of the winch system he designed and patented. It relies on a type of pulley usually used in construction, and it is driven by a small electric engine controlled by a switch in the wall.
The bed also acts as a design element. A fresco of sorts on the underside of the frame, visible when the bed is raised, features Arrigo’s name for the renovation project: Space Is Luxury.
When client and designer are the same person, there are many opportunities to try out different solutions so that imagination can turn into reality. “We definitely had little space and many challenges to face,” Arrigo says. “The risk was to privilege functionality while losing sight of aesthetics — for example, filling the home with domestic appliances.” The real difficulty was combining minimalism with convenience.
“We overcame this challenge thanks to two fundamental inventions. The first one is the bed, which allows the living space to be doubled. A simple winch system, totally integrated into the false ceiling, lifts the bed base and frees up the room,” he says.
The bed, made of natural birch and fitted with a futon, is extremely light, so there was no need to reinforce the ceiling. When it’s time to sleep, Arrigo simply lowers it to the floor with the help of the winch system he designed and patented. It relies on a type of pulley usually used in construction, and it is driven by a small electric engine controlled by a switch in the wall.
The bed also acts as a design element. A fresco of sorts on the underside of the frame, visible when the bed is raised, features Arrigo’s name for the renovation project: Space Is Luxury.
Fiji stools by Terry Dwan: Riva 1920
The second innovation is a partial wall that folds down and sits on a frame to extend the dining table into the terrace. It creates a connection and a shared spirit of conviviality between the indoor and outdoor spaces.
“We are a four-member family with a strong tradition of hospitality, typical of southern Italy. We often have friends over for lunch and dinner. This way, we manage to have space for at least 10 people,” Arrigo says.
The kitchen contains a dishwasher, an ice machine and a freezer. There is also a combination washer and dryer.
Pip-e outdoor chairs by Philippe Starck: Driade
The kitchen contains a dishwasher, an ice machine and a freezer. There is also a combination washer and dryer.
Pip-e outdoor chairs by Philippe Starck: Driade
The only door inside the home is to the bathroom. Here, space is cherished too: A compartment, almost hidden in the 13-by-13-inch sink, holds accessories.
Handwash sink: Agape; Batiò faucet by Giulio Iacchetti: Mamoli
Handwash sink: Agape; Batiò faucet by Giulio Iacchetti: Mamoli
The walls are simply covered in washable white paint, except for a textured gray wall that serves as a headboard for the queen-size bed. The flooring is 1-millimeter-thick self-adhesive parquet sheet vinyl.
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Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Architect Renato Arrigo; his wife, engineer Nathalie Morey; and their two daughters, Eva and Ofelia
Location: Taormina, Sicily, Italy
Size: 270 square feet (25.1 square meters)
That’s interesting: The celebration marking the completion of this $21,000 renovation project turned into a kind of performance. Because 200 guests never would have fit in the apartment at once, everyone received this unusual invitation: “Let’s meet in the street; there’s no space in my home anyway.” As a result, invitees and even passersby formed a kind of flash mob as they gathered and chatted outside, waiting for a chance to go upstairs.