One room apartment in Moscow by Room Design office

In the center of Moscow Room Design office designed a mini-apartment in retro style on 27 square meters. Strikingly used reddish-brown birch plywood recalls the interiors of the Soviet era and forms the kitchen, bed and podium as space-consuming built-in furniture. Contemporary details contrast the concept with a wink.

by Bettina Krause, 11/17/2021

Both the owner of the apartment Commune 303 and the architects Anton Lysko and Anastasia Zaytseva adore the Bauhaus, modernism and constructivist architecture of Russia. That's why the planners from Room Design Büro were asked to design the mini-apartment in the style of that period. The inspiration came from photos taken by the apartment's occupant of Hans Scharoun's Haus Schminke in Löbau.

"The name Commune 303 comes from a concept of Soviet society, in which people lived in a kind of commune - that is, in very small apartments equipped only with a bed, toilet, shower and a tiny kitchen," Anastasia Zaytseva tells. "These apartments were only for sleeping, because it was assumed that people would spend all their free time with their neighbors at the cinema, library or sports club."

Efficient room layout
In 27 square meters, the designers integrated cabinets, the window sill, a fold-out desk, a bed hidden behind an alcove, and a landing in addition to a kitchen in a space-filling built-in unit. "We designed the height difference to create a certain plasticity and zoning of space," explains Anastasia Zaytseva. Behind the bed is the entrance to a dark-tiled bathroom, where the characteristic wood reappears at the washstand. The reddish-brown birch plywood has a special meaning for Anastasia Zaytseva: "The color is often negatively associated with the Soviet era. Our goal was to prove that design also exists independently of the time and the challenges of this period. If you break away from the negative associations, you can fully enjoy Soviet architecture, design, philosophy and even domestic life."

Contemporary design
Small modern details like the Balloon Dog by Jeff Koons next to the bed or the lemon squeezer by Philippe Starck make the connection to the 21st century and create an exciting atmosphere in the small apartment. "It would be reckless if we didn't add contemporary elements to this apartment," says the architect. In part, they left the walls at the window unplastered, and on one wall a red painting adds a colorful highlight.

Otherwise, there are only a few pieces of furniture in the small space. Side tables, lamps and carpet were all bought secondhand. They give the room its special charm. According to the planners, it looks as if it were inhabited by a 50 to 60-year-old smoker. Anastasia Zaytseva says: "When the black leather armchair - a chance discovery in an online vintage store - arrived at our place, we felt that now the only thing missing was a crystal ashtray and the smell of tobacco."

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