Located in a postwar apartment block, this two-room home is the result of an intuitive renovation for a young adult.
The project began with two fortunate discoveries: the original herringbone wood flooring, and the terrazzo subfloor hidden beneath layers of tile - both quietly waiting to be restored. These became the foundation for the entire aesthetic and chromatic direction. By preserving and reconditioning these authentic materials, part of the budget could be redirected toward what mattered most: enhancing the tactile and visual experience of the space.
The only area where the finishes were redefined was the bathroom, designed as a calm, continuous composition where both shower and tub merge into a single terrazzo form. The new composite terrazzo, with its light resin base, gently contrasts the warm tones of the existing floor, creating a dialogue between old and new, between past textures and contemporary comfort.
At the entrance, the story continues with another soft intervention: a continuous curtain that replaces the damaged doors once separating the kitchen and living room. By keeping the original door frames and introducing this textile layer instead, the threshold becomes fluid, open, and alive. The drapery wraps the entrance in a tactile gesture, softening the geometry of the space and allowing it to unfold gradually, revealing the home’s calm heart.
The result is a minimal and coherent apartment, wrapped in light and quiet gestures. Every preserved detail becomes a fragment of memory and every new addition, a soft continuation of it.
The project began with two fortunate discoveries: the original herringbone wood flooring, and the terrazzo subfloor hidden beneath layers of tile - both quietly waiting to be restored. These became the foundation for the entire aesthetic and chromatic direction. By preserving and reconditioning these authentic materials, part of the budget could be redirected toward what mattered most: enhancing the tactile and visual experience of the space.
The only area where the finishes were redefined was the bathroom, designed as a calm, continuous composition where both shower and tub merge into a single terrazzo form. The new composite terrazzo, with its light resin base, gently contrasts the warm tones of the existing floor, creating a dialogue between old and new, between past textures and contemporary comfort.
At the entrance, the story continues with another soft intervention: a continuous curtain that replaces the damaged doors once separating the kitchen and living room. By keeping the original door frames and introducing this textile layer instead, the threshold becomes fluid, open, and alive. The drapery wraps the entrance in a tactile gesture, softening the geometry of the space and allowing it to unfold gradually, revealing the home’s calm heart.
The result is a minimal and coherent apartment, wrapped in light and quiet gestures. Every preserved detail becomes a fragment of memory and every new addition, a soft continuation of it.
S16 APARTMENT. BETWEEN OLD AND NEW
for A YOUNG ADULT
for A YOUNG ADULT
year: 2022
location: Bucharest, RO
status: finished
team: Oana Bălan, Flavius Busuioc
services: interior architecture, project management, photography
photography: Oana Bălan (BOA)
location: Bucharest, RO
status: finished
team: Oana Bălan, Flavius Busuioc
services: interior architecture, project management, photography
photography: Oana Bălan (BOA)
