A mini-apartment in Berlin is a traveller’s retreat

Berlin Pied-à-terre is a renovated, functional space of 40 square metres: Itay Friedman Architects makes skilful use of corners and niches, while playing with the combination of different materials. 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Plan, original condition. 

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Plan, new condition. 

Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

A small, functional and practical space. The flat in the Friedrichshain Boxhagener Kiez district in Berlin is designed to accommodate a worker from San Francisco who often travels for business. Itay Friedman Architects renovated a 40 square metre space, skilfully using corners and niches to create a place to work in comfort despite its small size. 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre. Photo © Itay Friedman Architects

The studio’s work on the Berlin Pied-à-terre project started from scratch, in a building in poor condition which had not been renovated since the fall of the Berlin Wall. For this personal retreat, the studio chose durable materials and energy-efficient solutions, replaced old fixtures and structures, installed beams and pipes, electrical and heating systems. 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre. Photo © Itay Friedman Architects

A corridor leads to the bedroom with bathroom, followed by the living room with mini-kitchen. The white colour of the walls, combined with the warm tones of the wooden floor, characterises the interior. A brick surface shows off the original structure and an interior window – emphasised by a green metal grid – appears in the corridor, communicating with the sleeping area and letting light through. 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre. Photo © Itay Friedman Architects

The space features combinations of different materials: wood meets terrazzo-effect tiles in the bathroom and bricks in the living area, and the coppery, reflective effects of metal in the kitchen are juxtaposed with stone. The result is a bright domestic environment that makes the most of space. 

  • Berlin Pied-à-terre
  • Berlin, Germany
  • Private apartment
  • Itay Friedman Architects
  • Anastasiia Lytvyniuk
  • Friedmann Fam
  • 40 sqm
  • 2020
Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Plan, original condition. 

Itay Friedman Architects, Berlin Pied-à-terre Photo © Itay Friedman Architects 

Plan, new condition.