The Design Home is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Japanese practice MAMM Design have renovated a duplex apartment in an 85-year old residential building in Amsterdam. Designed for a family of four, the renovated interiors allow maximum sunlight in the house and also provide space where the inhabitants can interact with each other.
From the designers, “Originally, there is a skylight at the top of staircase which connects upper and lower floors. Though the staircase itself was filled with sunlight coming from the skylight, the stairs and walls around them prevent the light from entering into the other part of the house. We took away the stairs, walls and a part of the upper floor’s slab, so that the sunlight can spread into all over the house. At the same time, the void connects the family.
There is a symbolic tower-shaped element standing through the house. Kitchen, bathroom and toilets are packed into the tower, utilizing existing pipe box. We placed new grating stairs climbing around the tower to create some place to stay at various levels. With the new circulation and spatial device, the family can create and enjoy various scenes of their daily life.”