Tiny Houses

Madrid apartment "works like a Swiss Army knife"

Madrid apartment "works like a Swiss Army knife"
The fold-down furniture includes a bed, storage space, dining table, an ironing board, and even an acupuncture table
The fold-down furniture includes a bed, storage space, dining table, an ironing board, and even an acupuncture table
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Susaloon features folding furniture and small hidden storage nooks
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Susaloon features folding furniture and small hidden storage nooks
Susaloon was completed in 2014
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Susaloon was completed in 2014
The fold-down furniture includes a bed, storage space, dining table, an ironing board, and even an acupuncture table
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The fold-down furniture includes a bed, storage space, dining table, an ironing board, and even an acupuncture table
Susaloon is likened to a Swiss Army knife by the architects due to its flexibility
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Susaloon is likened to a Swiss Army knife by the architects due to its flexibility
"How can you get a multitude of spaces out of only one? Susaloon is a minimal intervention in a domestic space to convert Susana’s home into a flexible and transformable space," says Elii
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"How can you get a multitude of spaces out of only one? Susaloon is a minimal intervention in a domestic space to convert Susana’s home into a flexible and transformable space," says Elii
One area of the apartment can be cut-off by sliding partition
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One area of the apartment can be cut-off by sliding partition
A small work area is also hidden from view when not in use
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A small work area is also hidden from view when not in use
Susaloon comprises a total floorspace of 23.5 sq m (252 sq ft)
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Susaloon comprises a total floorspace of 23.5 sq m (252 sq ft)
Architectural drawing of the apartment
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Architectural drawing of the apartment
Architectural drawing of the apartment
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Architectural drawing of the apartment
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Following its novel renovation of Madrid apartment Didomestic, architecture firm Elii took on a similarly quirky makeover of another flat in Spain's capital. Susaloon features flexible folding furniture installed throughout in a bid to maximize available space.

Completed in 2014, Susaloon draws its name from its owner Susana, and comprises a total floorspace of 23.5 sq m (252 sq ft), which is split between a kitchen, hall, bathroom, storage room, lounge, drawing room, and bedroom.

The apartment is likened to a Swiss Army knife by the architects due to its flexibility, and features folding furniture and small hidden storage nooks. This enables the owner to keep the floorspace empty for when she holds parties or practices yoga. The fold-down furniture includes a bed, storage space, dining table, an ironing board, and even an acupuncture table. A small work area is also hidden from view when not in use, and a sliding wall can be moved to partition off a room.

One area of the apartment can be cut-off by sliding partition
One area of the apartment can be cut-off by sliding partition

The home joins several other utilitarian Madrid apartment makeovers we've covered lately, including the Pop-Up House and All I Own House. For a better idea of how the folding furniture works and the home's layout, check out the video below by architectural photographer Miguel de Guzmán.

Sources: Elii, Miguel de Guzmán

elii 076 · SUSALOON

View gallery - 10 images
3 comments
3 comments
Tom Lee Mullins
I think that is really neat.
Bob Flint
Works fine if it's just one person, doing one thing at a time.
Shared living arrangements are quite different, and storage increases exponentially with time and multiples of people living in the same space.
xs400
Agree with Bob Flint.
But where do you store all your stuff? The entire wall space is occupied by the foldout contraptions.