In 2012 a former storage unit of 30 years went on sale in the uber-competitive Stockholm real estate market. The previous owner had begun a renovation in the 1980’s but fell ill and the apartment was left untouched until his death. But in a city like Stockholm, where any square foot is priced through the roof, and IKEA makes bedroom sets for rooms smaller than your closet, this waste of a beautiful space was insane. And that’s why architect Karin Matz stepped in and made this a story impossible to resist.
When he first found it, time had been frozen.
Wallpaper was half removed, only a few tiles and a kitchen faucet were sticking out of a wall.
There was no electricity and a bathroom only with signs of rats as inhabitants.
The finished apartment is a result of a fascination to try to let the previous layers and stories of a space live on and at the same time fill the requirements for the new story that will take place.
The apartment is 36sqm and the goal was to fit everything desired by the occupant.
Including generous spaces, airy sensation, walk in closet, all appliances for everyday life, a large luxury shower / bath, different possibilities of movement, a space which could be divided when wanted.
And most importantly, it needed to be light and inexpensive.
The result is done in two parts.
The first is everything part of a single structure, with everything being done with IKEA.
Everything in this part is completely redone with electricity inside the walls and with all surfaces painted white in order to bring in and reflect light.
The second part is left with things free-standing with all surfaces more or less as they have been for the last 20 years.
The holes and issues in the structure have been fixed, but the apartment retains its character.
The results are truly awesome.
Source: Karin Matz Arkitekt
