The Art of Living Small: How Modern Lifestyles are Redefining the “Big” Home
In the bustling Sharon district of Paris, nestled within an old 19th-century worker’s building, a 34-square-meter (365-square-foot) apartment is challenging the traditional notion of what a home should be. For decades, the “ideal” living space was defined by separate rooms and sprawling footprints. However, as urban density increases and lifestyles evolve, a new generation of homeowners and architects is proving that thoughtful design can turn even the most cramped quarters into a grand experience.
Breaking the 19th-Century Mold
The apartment in question had remained virtually untouched since the 1800s. Its original layout—a series of small, closed-off rooms including a tiny kitchen and a separate toilet—was a relic of a bygone era. According to architects Alexane More and Laura Guishto, co-founders of Studio, this configuration was simply “not suitable for a modern lifestyle”.
Today’s city dwellers often prioritize openness, light, and personalization over a high room count. For the client, Nicolas, a passionate collector of art and books, the goal wasn’t just to find a place to sleep, but to create a space that functioned like a private art gallery where his pathway through the home was “subtly guided” by design.
The Gallery Concept: Flow Over Walls
To achieve this, the architects moved away from the “usual framework” of residential design. They replaced traditional partitions with a long oak console that runs the entire length of the apartment. This single piece of furniture serves multiple purposes: it acts as a storage unit, hides radiators, and draws the eye toward the artwork at the end of the space, making the unit feel “larger and grander”.
A polished concrete platform was also installed to solve a modern logistical headache. Because plumbing and electricity were originally confined to the entrance, the platform allows these services to be distributed throughout the apartment while creating a “threshold” between the living and dining areas without the need for walls.
The Rise of “Discrete” Utility
Modern living also reflects a shift in how we use our utility spaces. For instance, while a kitchen was once a central, heavy fixture, modern inhabitants who dine out or travel frequently may prefer it to be less intrusive. In Nicolas’s home, the kitchen is “discrete and straightforward,” featuring appliances fully concealed within a central block. The dining area doubles as a sculptural object, with a table-height island made of stainless steel, marble mosaic tiles, and yellow plexiglass.
This trend of “unkitcheny kitchens” and multi-functional furniture is a cornerstone of the minimalist movement. In this Paris flat, the sofa is the size of a single bed, and the bedroom—though compact—utilizes a wall as a projector screen rather than cluttering the space with a television.
Privacy Without Doors
Perhaps the most radical shift in modern small-scale living is the move toward fluid privacy. By using an L-shaped layout for the bathroom and dressing room, the architects provided privacy “without the need for doors”. By combining the walk-in wardrobe with the main bathroom, they were able to double the functionality of the square footage. Even the laundry was moved out of the main living area, tucked into a previously unused space under the building’s communal stairs.
Conclusion: The Soul of the Space
The success of modern, small-scale living lies in the balance between constraints and desires. As the architects noted, designing small spaces requires a deep understanding of a client’s specific habits to “get the most out of a small space”. It is no longer about how much space you have, but how that space is curated to reflect your identity.
In many ways, modern home design is like a well-tailored suit: it may use less fabric than a bulky, off-the-rack coat, but because it is cut precisely to the movements and proportions of the individual, it feels infinitely more comfortable and sophisticated.