Pale timber steps, a chair and illuminated wall panels in the apartment — London Pied-à-terre
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Micro Apartment

London Pied-à-terre

“There are only two places in the world where we can live happy — at home and in Paris.”

Ernest Hemingway

TEXT

DHaus presents London Pied-à-terre, a 26 sqm micro-apartment redesigned to explore the parallels between compact living in Paris and London.

The client, a big fan of John Pawson and the cult of minimalism, challenged DHaus to completely open up and reconfigure the apartment. The brief called for a home that could be both efficient and calm, distilling the essence of a pied-à-terre into a London context.

Context & Concept
Both Paris and London face some of the highest housing costs in Europe, forcing residents to trade size for centrality. As a result, studio apartments, micro-flats, and subdivided historic buildings have become common in both capitals. The architectural heritage of each city has also shaped this condition: in Paris, chambres de bonne once intended as servants’ quarters are now adapted as compact homes, while in London, Victorian and Georgian townhouses are frequently carved into small flats or basement studios. In both cities, careful retrofits and inventive layouts are essential for turning these modest footprints into liveable spaces.

Design Approach
The redesign centred on openness and light. By removing partitions and connecting the kitchen with the living space, the plan enhances natural light and creates uninterrupted sight lines. Multi-functional furniture and built-in storage were employed throughout, maximising efficiency while maintaining a consistent and restrained material palette.

Key Design Elements

Living minimal means less art, less clutter, so we tried to make the key elements of the design pieces of art in themselves, we have an giant 4m high Egyptian door that one enters through into the space like a portal. Banquette seating that takes the form of a Bauhaus inspired sculptural form that is juxtaposed against a cartoon like ideogram of a minimal staircase with an elegant handrail designed to reflect a simple hand sketch.

What Makes a Good Pied-à-Terre?
The project was guided by key principles distilled from Parisian small-space living:

  • Clever use of layout & lighting: Embracing quirks of older architecture by opening up kitchens to living areas, maintaining clear sight lines, and maximising daylight through glass partitions, sliding doors, and translucent dividers.
  • Multi-functional furniture & built-ins: Sofa-beds, fold-out tables, and custom storage units that exploit every niche or alcove.
  • Vertical & hidden spaces: Under-bed storage, tall shelving, and concealed compartments that make full use of volume. Extending vertically – Opening up double height spaces where we one can.
  • Minimalist styling: A consistent palette and restrained approach that prevents visual clutter and ensures the space feels coherent and calm.

    • Materials & Details
    The project also became a canvas for material and furniture experimentation. It marked DHaus’ first use of Dinesen flooring from Denmark, chosen for its natural character and longevity, and the first installation of a non-commercial stainless steel kitchen in a residential setting. At the heart of the living area, the shapeshifting D*Table provides a flexible, space-saving solution — shifting form to suit dining, working, or entertaining.

    Sculptural timber stair beside a bright living space — London Pied-à-terre
    White pedestal basin beside pale wall panels — London Pied-à-terre
    Sculptural timber stair beside a bright living space — London Pied-à-terre
    Compact open-plan kitchen and dining area — London Pied-à-terre
    Stainless steel kitchen with integrated appliances — London Pied-à-terre
    Sculptural timber stair beside a bright living space — London Pied-à-terre
    Stainless steel kitchen with integrated appliances — London Pied-à-terre
    Sculptural timber stair beside a bright living space — London Pied-à-terre
    Sculptural timber stair beside a bright living space — London Pied-à-terre
    White pedestal basin beside pale wall panels — London Pied-à-terre
    White folded staircase model on a timber surface — London Pied-à-terre
    Glazed door opening onto a small balcony — London Pied-à-terre
    Bedside lamp beside a pale upholstered bed — London Pied-à-terre
    Apartment floor plan drawing — London Pied-à-terre
    Black-and-white geometric interior drawings — London Pied-à-terre
    Staircase axonometric drawing — London Pied-à-terre
    Staircase profile and section drawings — London Pied-à-terre
    Staircase profile and section drawings — London Pied-à-terre
    Black-and-white geometric interior drawings — London Pied-à-terre
    Black-and-white geometric interior drawings — London Pied-à-terre
    Steps leading into a bright compact apartment — London Pied-à-terre
    Geometric DHaus logo within a wireframe cube — DHaus Concept
    DHaus
    DHaus is an experimental Architecture and Design practice. We strive to make complicated things simple.