Parc Oasis

To play up the building's resemblance to an American detached house, the first move was full-height windows that open straight onto the greenery outside. The ceiling sat at only eight feet, so we used a versatile ceiling lighting system to draw the eye away from the height, and chose a slightly darker wall colour, which quietly makes the ceiling read taller. That bit of interior design sleight-of-hand does most of the work.

The flat was smaller than what he was used to, but it still had to do everything: sleep, work, play, and host. We built an ensuite bedroom with a generous walk-in closet, then made a guest room earn its keep as an office, fitting a Murphy bed that folds away to free up a work desk whenever no one is visiting.

The kitchen was kept open so he could keep talking to friends even while cooking, which is really what entertaining at home is about. Throughout, the joinery was made to measure by our trusted partner factory, so the fitted pieces sit tight to the walls and the small flat never feels cramped.