A loft apartment that provides space to live and work, while playing with the problem of the nine-square grid

In my Studio I class, we each designed a modern loft apartment that provided both space for living (eating, sleeping, etc.) and working. The imaginary apartment was in the shape of a cube (24’ x 24’) with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. Our “client” requested a minimalist solution with one grand architectural gesture to help divide and organize the space in a creative way.

I used three dimensional physical models to investigate multiple initial ideas, moving closer to the final solution with each iteration. I settled on a three-story structure of stacked boxes that are hinged on a spiral staircase, arrayed so that each faces a different direction. Inspired by innovative designs across the globe, I selected ready-made shipping containers as a nod to sustainability, in keeping with the client’s vision. Each shipping container then has its own function: the bottom container is the work space, the middle container is the kitchen, and the top is the bedroom.