Architecture firm DHaus has completed the London Pied-à-Terre project, a remarkable transformation of a 280-square-foot (26-square-meter) micro-apartment that draws inspiration from compact Parisian living spaces. The innovative redesign demonstrates how minimalist principles and strategic spatial planning can dramatically enhance urban dwelling experiences in one of the world's most expensive housing markets.

The project addresses a common challenge facing both Paris and London: the need for efficient small-space living due to high housing costs and dense urban environments. In Paris, former chambres de bonne—historic servants' quarters—have been converted into compact homes, while London's Victorian and Georgian townhouses are frequently subdivided into small apartments and basement studios. DHaus's approach responds to these shared urban conditions through adaptive reuse, efficient planning, and refined architectural detailing.

The redesign prioritizes openness and natural light as key elements of the transformation. The architects removed internal partitions and integrated the kitchen with the living area to maximize daylight penetration and create visual continuity throughout the space. Built-in furniture, concealed storage solutions, and a carefully selected material palette maintain both efficiency and aesthetic cohesion across the compact footprint.

Several distinctive design features define the space's character and functionality. A striking four-meter-high Egyptian-style entrance door serves as a dramatic spatial threshold, introducing a sense of grandeur within the small apartment. Custom banquette seating, influenced by Bauhaus geometric principles, provides flexible seating options while contrasting with a minimalist staircase whose handrail resembles a simple line drawing. Each architectural element contributes sculpturally to the overall design, replacing traditional decorative elements with form-driven solutions.

DHaus drew extensively from established Parisian small-space living strategies, which emphasize optimized layouts, strategic lighting, multi-functional furniture, vertical space utilization, and minimalist design coherence. The design team opened the kitchen to the living area to maintain clear sightlines, incorporated translucent partitions to distribute light effectively, and integrated fold-out tables, sofa-beds, and storage systems into walls and niches. Tall shelving units and under-bed compartments maximize vertical space while creating opportunities for double-height spatial experiences.

Material experimentation plays a central role in the project's success and innovation. The architects selected Dinesen flooring from Denmark for its natural grain patterns and exceptional durability, while introducing a custom stainless-steel kitchen—marking the studio's first residential application of this material. At the heart of the living space, the specially designed DTable provides a transformable surface that adapts seamlessly between dining, working, and entertaining functions, embodying the flexibility that defines the entire design concept.

"We wanted to take lessons from Parisian micro-living and translate them into a London setting; compact, adaptable, and designed to make the most of every square meter," explains David Ben Grunberg, Director of DHaus. This philosophy guided every aspect of the renovation, from spatial planning to material selection and custom furniture design.

Founded in 2017, DHaus operates as a trans-European practice with offices in both London and Paris, specializing in experimental architecture and innovative design solutions. The studio's distinctive approach emphasizes precise architectural detailing, adaptable spatial layouts, and material integrity, consistently exploring how spatial efficiency can coexist with expressive architectural form. The London Pied-à-Terre project exemplifies this philosophy, demonstrating that even the smallest urban spaces can be transformed into sophisticated, highly functional living environments that enhance daily life through thoughtful design intervention.