INTERIOR SCALE 02 - ROOM 2023 · Concept Study

Micro-Living Units

28m² apartments that feel like 45m². Spatial illusions through parametric furniture.

Interior Compact Living Parametric Furniture Behavioral Design Concept

PROJECT: Micro-Living Units
SHEET: A-103
TYPE: INTERIOR
SCALE: SCALE 02 - ROOM
DATE: 2023
DRAWN BY: FRAKTAL

OVERVIEW

Urban housing in Turkey increasingly means smaller units. Instead of fighting this trend, we embraced it: designing 28m² apartments that psychologically feel much larger.

The key: parametric furniture systems that transform throughout the day. A bed becomes a sofa, a desk folds into a dining table, storage is hidden in every surface.

A self-initiated studio study: the behavioral layer runs on scripted occupancy simulations, and the 1:1 mock-up is specified as the next validation step.

THE CHALLENGE

Make 28m² apartments feel spacious enough for young professionals, while including full kitchen, bathroom, sleeping, working, and living functions.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

Design Intent

Space is not measured in square meters. It is measured in possibilities. A 28m² apartment that offers 12 configurations is larger than a 60m² apartment with one.

APPROACH

Research-Driven Design

01

Activity Simulation

We scripted a typical week of routines (sleep, cook, work, host) across 12 published micro-apartment plans and ran occupancy simulations. The heatmaps concentrate 60% of waking hours in a 4m² zone: this 'active core' became our primary design driver. Capturing this layer from real rooms is exactly the scenario SpaceCraft's scanning is built for.

02

Cultural Genome Mixing

From Tokyo: the genkan threshold (psychological decompression at entry). From Copenhagen: the 'window seat' as a separate activity zone. From Berlin: the Arbeitszimmer as a closeable visual boundary. These were synthesized into a hybrid typology.

03

Proxemic Calibration

We applied Edward Hall's proxemic theory: intimate zone (0-45cm) assigned to the bed alcove; personal zone (45-120cm) for desk and seating; social zone (1.2-3.6m) for dining and hosting. Furniture placement was optimized against these thresholds.

04

Perception Over Addition

Strategic mirror placement (2.4m² total) and indirect ambient lighting expand perceived volume by 60% in our isovist-based perception model. We maintained ceiling height variation (2.4m → 2.7m at window edge) to avoid the 'capsule hotel' aesthetic.

PROCESS

Design Process

01

Behavioral Simulation

6 weeks

A scripted week of daily routines run across 12 published micro-apartment plans. Identified the 4m² active core where 60% of waking hours concentrate.

02

Cultural Analysis

4 weeks

Spatial genome extraction from Tokyo (genkan threshold), Copenhagen (window seat), and Berlin (Arbeitszimmer) micro-living typologies.

03

Proxemic Design

8 weeks

Furniture placement optimized against Edward Hall's proxemic zones: intimate (0-45cm), personal (45-120cm), social (1.2-3.6m).

04

Mock-up Specification

next phase

A 1:1 mock-up with a two-week user test is specified as the validation phase; the isovist perception model projects a 60% perceived-size increase.

SPECIFICATIONS

Technical Data

Unit Size 28 m²

Perceived Size 45 m² equivalent

Active Core 4 m²

Transformations 12 modes per unit

Mirror Area 2.4 m² strategic

Ceiling Range 2.4m - 2.7m

Simulated Routines 12 plans × 1 week

Validation 1:1 mock-up (planned)

MATERIALS

Material Palette

01

Birch Plywood

CNC-cut furniture modules from Finnish birch plywood. 18mm thickness balances structural capacity with visual lightness.

02

Micro-Cement Flooring

Seamless 3mm micro-cement floor eliminates visual boundaries between zones, expanding perceived area.

03

Acoustic Felt Panels

Recycled PET felt in ceiling alcoves absorbs reverberation, preventing the 'echo box' effect common in compact units.

04

Integrated LED Strips

Indirect ambient lighting system concealed in furniture joinery. Tunable 2700K-5000K for activity-appropriate atmosphere.

RESULTS

Performance Metrics

60% Perceived Size Increase isovist perception model

12 Transformation Modes per unit

4m² Active Core occupancy simulation

1:1 Mock-up specified as next step

SUSTAINABILITY

Environmental Performance

28m² footprint per resident vs 60m² national average

Custom furniture from FSC-certified birch plywood

Recycled PET acoustic panels (85% post-consumer)

LED lighting reduces energy use by 70% vs conventional

No mechanical ventilation in any unit

20% rental premium offsets custom furniture cost

DESIGN IMPACT

Before & After Our Analysis

Before

Standard 28m² layout

After

Proxemic-optimized layout

Occupancy simulation concentrated 60% of waking hours in a 4m² zone. Proxemic calibration placed furniture along intimate, personal, and social thresholds, creating 12 transformation modes from a single floor plan.

Before

Conventional compact interior

After

Perception-expanded interior

Strategic mirror placement and indirect lighting expand perceived volume by 60% in the isovist perception model. Variable ceiling height (2.4m to 2.7m at window) avoids the capsule hotel aesthetic.

DESIGN TRADE-OFFS

Custom furniture costs 40% more than standard; the pro-forma offsets this with a projected 20% rental premium.

GALLERY