Houzz Tour: 5 Rooms in 1 Compact Box
Carefully designed down to the smallest detail, this multifunctional unit in Italy perfectly balances beauty and utility
Kitchen, closet, entrance hall, laundry room and study all in one, this oak monolith combines a number of household functions into a single compact unit. This clever piece of furniture stands in the living area of an apartment — a former loggia that was enclosed in the 1970s — on the top floor of a villa overlooking Lake Como. Thanks to its simple, rational aesthetic, this compact, free-standing piece defines the entire space it occupies.
This multifunctional architectural module was designed by Isabella Maruti and her staff and manufactured with the help of the Molteni carpentry workshop in Cantù, Italy. This artisan workshop’s willingness to try new approaches allowed for the creation of a module this precise and complex.
The box was Maruti’s solution to her client’s request to create a place for all the essential functions of the house, outside of the sleeping area, without visually dividing the space, and bearing in mind the size of the apartment. This free-standing unit, simply “dropped” into the room, preserves the continuity of the space and the ceiling and allows the light from the large windows, which overlook the lake, to filter inside.
The module was put together on site once everything else was already done. The water supply and electrical systems were measured down to the millimeter ahead of time, as space inside the box is at a premium. The unit was first assembled in the carpentry workshop; it was then dismantled and reassembled, in about a week, inside the house.
The module was put together on site once everything else was already done. The water supply and electrical systems were measured down to the millimeter ahead of time, as space inside the box is at a premium. The unit was first assembled in the carpentry workshop; it was then dismantled and reassembled, in about a week, inside the house.
The pivoting pocket doors on the kitchen side of the unit are one of the most interesting elements of the module. Instead of standing open, they slide back into a sleeve and disappear entirely into the unit. This drawing shows the placement of the doors both when swinging open and retracted into their sleeves.
This cutting-edge solution is now available commercially, but it was an innovation at the time of the module’s construction in 2009 and had to be custom designed for this project.
The refrigerator is tucked behind cabinetry to the left of the blender in this shot.
The refrigerator is tucked behind cabinetry to the left of the blender in this shot.
The box as a whole is about 11½ feet wide, 6½ feet deep and about 10 feet high. It is made entirely of wood, including the support structure, which consists of sandwich panels with wooden struts and insulation in the inner layer, and wood on the outside.
Cutting the unit in two between the kitchen and the laundry room is a space that houses all its plumbing and electrical systems.
Cutting the unit in two between the kitchen and the laundry room is a space that houses all its plumbing and electrical systems.
A staggered-step staircase — which takes up less room than a staircase with regular treads — leads to a small study on top of the module.
The study area was designed with a continuous narrow shelf and worktop that expands at one end of the room. The widest side functions as a desk, and the rest is a library that also serves as a parapet.
Though it is close to the ceiling, it is possible to stand upright here. The study also offers a view of the lake through the large windows.
The ceiling had previously been covered in dark brown paint, so it was the focus of a major cleanup effort. After a lot of sandblasting, it was brought back to its original color and splendor. This completely changed the look of the space.
The ceiling had previously been covered in dark brown paint, so it was the focus of a major cleanup effort. After a lot of sandblasting, it was brought back to its original color and splendor. This completely changed the look of the space.
Behind the staircase is the laundry room. The hollow under the stairs serves as a shoe rack to make the most of every inch. Even in this space, which is only about 4 feet wide, a small window lets light in.
A very dark dried oak was chosen for the flooring to make the module stand out.
The unit is solid and compact when closed and concentrates a number of essential functions in one small volume. This approach to space management is reminiscent of ship interiors: Not surprisingly, its owner is an enthusiastic yachtsman.
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The unit is solid and compact when closed and concentrates a number of essential functions in one small volume. This approach to space management is reminiscent of ship interiors: Not surprisingly, its owner is an enthusiastic yachtsman.
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Houzz at a Glance
Location: Lierna, in the province of Lecco, Italy
Apartment size: 646 square feet (60 square meters), with ceilings higher than 16 feet (5 meters)
Materials: The module is made entirely of oak and finished with a gloss varnish.
Budget: About $17,100 for the island, $12,700 for appliances, sink and countertop, and $25,700 for the multipurpose unit
Year of renovation: 2009
Architect: Isabella Maruti