skip to main content
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
  • PHOTOS
    KITCHEN & DINING
    • Kitchen
    • Modular Kitchen
    • Dining Room
    • Home Bar
    LIVING
    • Living Room
    • Home Theater
    • Home Office
    • Staircase
    BED & BATH
    • Bedroom
    • Nursery
    • Kid's Room
    • Bathroom
    OUTDOOR
    • Garden
    • Patio
    • Terrace & Balcony
    • Courtyard
    MORE ROOMS
    • Puja Room
    • Wardrobe
    • Exterior
    • Swimming Pool
    • View All
  • FIND PROFESSIONALS
    DESIGN & RENOVATION
    • Architects & Building Designers
    • Interior Designers & Decorators
    • Civil Engineers & Contractors
    • Design-Build Firms
    • Kitchen & Bath Designers
    • Landscape Architects & Contractors
    • Home Builders & Construction Companies
    • Photographers
    • Specialty Contractors
    HOME IMPROVEMENT
    • Furniture & Accessories
    • Flooring & Carpet
    • Tile, Stone & Countertop
    • Bedding & Bath
    View All Pros View All Services
  • STORIES
    LATEST FROM HOUZZ
    • Houzz Tours
    • Kitchen Guides
    • Bathroom Guides
    • Bedroom Guides
    • Decorating Guides
    • Outdoors
    • Architecture
    HOUZZ TV
    HOUZZ RESEARCH
  • ADVICE
    HOUZZ DISCUSSIONS
    • Design Dilemma
    • Before & After
    • Polls
    • Home Decorating
    • Kitchens
    • Living Rooms
    • Bedrooms
    • Dining Rooms
    • Exterior
    • Lighting
    • Paint
    • Building a Home
Houzz Around the World
Houzz Around the World
Unbelievable Italian Home Shows a Mirror to the Mountains
Top Ideabooks
Unbelievable Italian Home Shows a Mirror to the MountainsHouzz Tour: A 335-Sq-Ft Apartment Hides Storage and Surprises9 Architectural Elements of the Spanish Revival StyleTour the Historical Homes of Trailblazing African Americans
Appears in
Houzz ToursRecent Ideabooks
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tours
Delhi Houzz: The Power of Simplicity Is Evident In This Home
Top Ideabooks
Delhi Houzz: The Power of Simplicity Is Evident In This HomeLonavala Houzz: This Valley Vacation Home Has Windows for WallsHyderabad Houzz: Allu Arjun's Home is Anything But ConventionalDelhi Houzz: A Swish Skyrise Home With a Scandinavian Flair
Appears in
Recent Ideabooks
See also
Houzz Around the WorldIndian Homes
Small Spaces
Small Spaces
10 Space-Saving Seating Layouts for Compact Balconies
Top Ideabooks
10 Space-Saving Seating Layouts for Compact BalconiesHouzz Tour: A 335-Sq-Ft Apartment Hides Storage and Surprises10 Tricks to Make Your Master Bedroom Feel Bigger27 Genius Dining Area Ideas For Tiny Apartments
Appears in
Decorating Guides

Houzz Tour: A 335-Sq-Ft Apartment Hides Storage and Surprises

A multifunctional unit incorporates hidden storage and creates a smart split-level layout in this apartment

Rafael F. Bermejo
Rafael F. Bermejo13 February 2021
Director de la Revista Houzz España
More
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
The architects at studio Elii named this renovation Yojigen Poketto, in homage to Japanese cartoon Doraemon the Cosmic Cat. Doraemon is a robot-cat who, among other things, takes care of lazy and stubborn child Nobita Nobi. The architects explain to us that Doraemon pulls items from the future out of the yojigen poketto, literally his “4D pocket.” The name they chose is perfect for this split-level micro-apartment, which is jam-packed with drawers and secret compartments. As with Doraemon’s pocket, you never know what might come out.
elii - oficina de arquitectura
Photos by Miguel de Guzmán + Rocío Romero of ImagenSubliminal

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Diana Díaz and Luis Arenas, a young couple
Location: Madrid, Spain
Size: 33 square metres (about 355 square feet)
Architect coordinator: Ana López, of Elii
Team: Lucía Fernández + Eduardo Castillo of Elii
That’s interesting: These photos were taken before the couple moved into their apartment.

The three architects at Elii collaborate on every project. Maybe this was the key to this imaginative project – that they brought three minds together to find best way to realise the possibilities of a complicated space. It’s no surprise that they responded to our questions together: They told us that they prefer not to emphasise the individuality of one person over another.

The storage module was the seed of the entire project. This unit integrates the entrance, wet areas, storage and social spaces. This allowed the architects to free up the main space.
elii - oficina de arquitectura
Pictured: Carlos Cañete of Elii

The apartment is very bright thanks to large windows and balconies. The layout of the unit keeps the private spaces out of sight of the entrance.
elii - oficina de arquitectura
The split-level apartment has the the main space and the kitchen unit on the bottom and the bedroom and bathroom 35 inches (90 centimetres) above them, aligned with the kitchen countertop.

Check out these tricks to expand a small home
elii - oficina de arquitectura
Pictured: Carlos Cañete and Ana López of Elii

The elevation delineates two separate environments within the apartment, which is a huge bonus in such a tiny space. It also opens up possibilities for extra features like the sunken bathtub in the bathroom and the storage area under the bed.
elii - oficina de arquitectura
Storage is worked into the unit through secret compartments. A movable staircase module connects the two levels, contains drawers and, at the same time, serves as a small “grandstand” offering extra seating in the living room.

See how rooms can be transformed into multipurpose spaces
elii - oficina de arquitectura
Left to right: Carlos Cañete, Lucía Fernández, Ana López of Elii

Part of the kitchen counter can be removed to serve as a coffee table. The resulting niche in the counter can be used as a cozy reading bench.
elii - oficina de arquitectura
Wall and floor finishes further separate the two zones. While the main social area has light-coloured walls – for maximum brightness – and a linoleum floor, the bedroom is defined by wood finishes. A projector lets the couple watch movies in bed.

Learn how to partition spaces without using walls
elii - oficina de arquitectura
elii - oficina de arquitectura
Carlos Cañete enjoys a soak.

The bathroom walls, floor and bathtub are all finished in the same tiles. This makes for a bright box that adds some depth to an otherwise enclosed space lacking in natural light. The shiny finish of the walls and ceiling makes the space even brighter.
elii - oficina de arquitectura
Pictured: Carlos Cañete

The team made the most of the apartment’s position in the corner of the building, bringing in a maximum of natural light and giving every part of the space outside views.

The architects say that the owners are very happy with the result and enjoy the spatial experience.

Construction: Aniceto Jiménez
Carpentry work: Alfredo Merino Caldas


Read more:
Houzz Tour: Five Rooms in One Compact Unit

Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in the Comments below.
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
See 4 comments
Explore Related Topics
Houzz Around the WorldHouzz ToursSmall Spaces
Read Related Stories
Unbelievable Italian Home Shows a Mirror to the MountainsUnbelievable Italian Home Shows a Mirror to the Mountains
By Sabrina Sciama·69
Houzz Tours
9 Architectural Elements of the Spanish Revival Style9 Architectural Elements of the Spanish Revival Style
By Debbie Snider·32
Architecture
Tour the Historical Homes of Trailblazing African AmericansTour the Historical Homes of Trailblazing African Americans
By Annie Thornton·26
Houzz Around the World
50 Breathtaking Living Rooms From Across the World50 Breathtaking Living Rooms From Across the World
By Deirdre Avenell·37
Living Rooms
8 Cleverly Designed Homes Under 500 Square Feet8 Cleverly Designed Homes Under 500 Square Feet
By Bryan Anthony·21
Small Spaces
The 5 Biggest Trends at 2020 Global Design EventsThe 5 Biggest Trends at 2020 Global Design Events
By Julia Bolotina·5
Decorating Guides
Milan Apartment Pays Tribute to 40 Years of the Memphis GroupMilan Apartment Pays Tribute to 40 Years of the Memphis Group
By Clara Carreras·43
Houzz Tours
The Most Popular Kitchens From Around The WorldThe Most Popular Kitchens From Around The World
By Julia Bolotina·73
Kitchen Guides
10 of the Best Before & After Makeovers You Will Ever See10 of the Best Before & After Makeovers You Will Ever See
By Emily Hutchinson·10
Decorating Ideas
Colour Used As Architecture in Milan Flat Inspired by CorbusierColour Used As Architecture in Milan Flat Inspired by Corbusier
By Claudia Schiera·85
Houzz Tours
Genius Layouts & Smart Storage: 27 Super Clever Kitchen ArrangementsGenius Layouts & Smart Storage: 27 Super Clever Kitchen Arrangements
By Georgia Madden·26
Kitchen Guides
Concrete, Metal & Leather Accent This Flat's Industrial BonesConcrete, Metal & Leather Accent This Flat's Industrial Bones
By Евгения Назарова·42
Houzz Tours
This Musician’s Tiny House is the Most Amazing Home You'll Ever SeeThis Musician’s Tiny House is the Most Amazing Home You'll Ever See
By Mitchell Parker·179
Houzz TV
Milano Design City: Design Culture Endures in ItalyMilano Design City: Design Culture Endures in Italy
By Antonia Solari·7
Houzz Around the World
4 Amazing Backyard Home Offices of Architects and Designers4 Amazing Backyard Home Offices of Architects and Designers
By Annie Thornton·15
Houzz Tours
People who liked this story also liked
Unbelievable Italian Home Shows a Mirror to the Mountains
Unbelievable Italian Home Shows a Mirror to the MountainsFull Story
9 Architectural Elements of the Spanish Revival Style
9 Architectural Elements of the Spanish Revival StyleFull Story
Tour the Historical Homes of Trailblazing African Americans
Tour the Historical Homes of Trailblazing African AmericansFull Story
50 Breathtaking Living Rooms From Across the World
50 Breathtaking Living Rooms From Across the WorldFull Story
8 Cleverly Designed Homes Under 500 Square Feet
8 Cleverly Designed Homes Under 500 Square FeetFull Story
The 5 Biggest Trends at 2020 Global Design Events
The 5 Biggest Trends at 2020 Global Design EventsFull Story
Milan Apartment Pays Tribute to 40 Years of the Memphis Group
Milan Apartment Pays Tribute to 40 Years of the Memphis GroupFull Story
The Most Popular Kitchens From Around The World
The Most Popular Kitchens From Around The WorldFull Story
10 of the Best Before & After Makeovers You Will Ever See
10 of the Best Before & After Makeovers You Will Ever SeeFull Story
Colour Used As Architecture in Milan Flat Inspired by Corbusier
Colour Used As Architecture in Milan Flat Inspired by CorbusierFull Story
  • India
  • ABOUT
  • MOBILE APPS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • BUTTONS
  • FAQs
  • CAREERS
  • ADVERTISE
  • Terms & Privacy
  • © 2021 Houzz Inc.