Japanese architecture firm MAMM DESIGN has successfully renovated a remarkable apartment within an 85-year-old building complex in Amsterdam, creating an ultra-contemporary living space centered around an ingenious white tower. The renovation was specifically designed to accommodate a family of four, transforming what was once a conventional two-story unit into a bright, functional home that maximizes natural light in Amsterdam's often gray climate.

The project was undertaken for an Italian-Japanese couple and their children who had never lived in Amsterdam before. According to the studio's official statement, the renovation aimed to help the family adjust to the city's climate without suffering from the lack of sunlight typical in older European buildings. The architects explained that "this project involved renovating a house occupying two floors of an 85-year-old building in Amsterdam, with the client wanting the family to feel comfortable together within the home."

The centerpiece of the nearly 1,450-square-foot space is a striking white tower that immediately catches the eye. This architectural gem connects the main floor to the sleeping area through a mezzanine and houses one of the most original kitchens imaginable. The tower is sunken into the dining room floor, creating the effect of a comfortable bubble that balances intimacy with shared living. The countertop, sink, and cabinets barely protrude from the floor, which is covered with soft brown carpeting, while white walls reflect the abundant light streaming through tall windows from the adjacent terrace.

The innovative design particularly considers the family's children, who are invited to participate in their parents' kitchen activities. The upper portion of the tower functions as a suspended cabin with white windows, allowing children to observe the activities happening around them. MAMM DESIGN noted that "for the staircase, we placed grated steps all around the tower, promoting transparency and circulation, thus allowing the family to create and appreciate different scenes of daily life."

Originally, the apartment featured a skylight overlooking the staircase connecting the fourth and fifth floors, but the staircase and surrounding walls blocked light from reaching the rest of the house. Traditional older buildings typically don't allow much natural light for insulation and heat conservation reasons. To create a more welcoming living space similar to the future owner's native Italy, the studio removed the original stairs and their surrounding walls.

By removing part of the building's top floor, the architects created the mezzanine that gives family members the freedom to share the same space without being forced to participate in the same activities. The characteristic atrium tower strategically groups all water-related spaces including the kitchen, bathroom, and toilet to take advantage of the existing drainage network. Throughout the remaining rooms, white dominates alongside softness, with the new owners choosing to leave walls white and introduce color only through furniture.

The structural beams that originally supported the space beneath the pointed roof of this Amsterdam building are now covered in the same white as the walls. This decorative detail unifies the space and makes it surprisingly more comfortable, particularly in the suspended cabin area with its light wood parquet flooring and strictly natural lighting reflected by the white walls. Skylights throughout the apartment allow maximum light penetration, warming the space through the white walls.

Where the original apartment was ordinary, MAMM DESIGN has created an exceptional and luminous living environment that successfully addresses the challenges of Amsterdam's climate while providing a functional, beautiful home for a multicultural family. The renovation demonstrates how thoughtful architectural intervention can transform aging urban housing into contemporary, light-filled living spaces that serve modern family needs.