Idunsgate Apartment is a two story modern loft that has been transformed by Haptic Architects, situated on the top floor of a 19th century apartment building in central Oslo in Norway. After purchasing the loft space above the apartment, the clients were able to do a full scale refurbishment of the loft, bringing the two floors into one, unified space.

The design

Through a thorough three-dimensional survey of the apartment and careful assessment of the means of escape, we were able to incorporate every nook and cranny and even part of the stairwell into the design.

By fully utilizing the level changes and opportunities we could introduce spatial drama with substantial vertical sight lines. The en-suite bathroom to the master bedroom is organized over three levels. A sunny terrace has a large glass wall that brings evening light deep into the apartment.

Some loft space has been sacrificed to create a double height space over the living room.

Staircase

The centerpiece of the apartment is the feature staircase connecting the two levels. A modular, powder coated, white steel stair is suspended between the joists and connects to a low storage/sofa unit that runs along the front facade.

Kitchen

The original kitchen was tight, inefficient and north facing. By moving it into the common areas we could create a light, airy and spacious space that becomes the social heart and integrates with the rest of the apartment. A small fireplace is integrated into the kitchen worktop and the kitchen fronts are painted to match the color of the fireplace.

Bathroom

The bathroom incorporated several level changes, and by using large scale 100x300cm tiles, the impression is of one that is carved out of a single block of stone.

Photos: Courtesy of Haptic Architects