LAYOUT:
The layout is designed to optimize the light coming in from the single horizontal window and avoid any dark unlit corner spaces. The immediate space next to the window is kept full height of 4.90m so the incoming light is not blocked in any way. The same applies to the other side with the main door in glass.
The mezzanine is placed exactly above the living area so as to give a clear rectangular floor space to both these areas. The space between the uneven walls and columns is utilized as a kitchen and dining area – the nooks and corners could well be used to accommodate shelves and cabinets.
The existing bathroom is extended outwards to make it more spacious and the laundry is kept hidden as requested in the brief. All the areas requiring water supply and drainage – the bathroom, the kitchen and the laundry, are kept adjacent to each other to facilitate easy plumbing.
The wardrobe and dress area is accommodated in the hallway outside the bathroom.
The study and sleep areas are clubbed together on the mezzanine with the desks facing the main window directly. A metal grill is used to cover the mezzanine floor on both sides – it allows the light and ventilation passing through without any obstruction and can also help in hanging clothes/ desk supplies/ shelves easily since the limited floor space doesn’t allow options for much storage. The desks are placed in the area with a lower height of 4.20m, such that the person using it can be seated comfortably, which otherwise is not enough space for the mezzanine height and would thus be underutilized. This gives enough space for another storage and dress area next to the double bed, making the whole of the mezzanine floor a complete bedroom.
The staircase is a staggered steps- staircase as shown in the reference images. Any other kind of staircase occupies quite a lot of space in this small site. The steps are storage units built on top of one another and joined with a T.V. unit- all in timber and made to measure on the site. The space below the staircase can be used for an apartment sized refrigerator. The whole mezzanine area rests on four timber columns which can be fixed to the existing walls and floor.

FURNITURE:
The whole space is designed keeping in mind an occupancy of at least 2 people- two desks, a double bed on the mezzanine floor and a convertible sofa-bed in the living area.
The kitchen accommodates a stove/ hot plate, an oven, a dishwasher, a sink and cabinets below the counter and above near the window. The stove placement is designed to facilitate easy exhaust from the hood.
Some of the cabinets/ shelves need to be made-to-measure as the uneven and tiny spaces cannot accommodate store-bought pieces without wasting a lot of space. The listings for all furniture pieces are in the furniture layout sheets.

MATERIALS and COLOURS: (White + Grey + Wood + Yellow)
Since the space has very little light, the materials and colours are chosen to reflect light as much as possible. The walls are kept plain white and the furniture is light-medium wooden veneer or laminate or bamboo veneer in cases of some IKEA products. The floor is a laminate flooring – ground floor in brown timber laminate and the mezzanine is grey timber laminate. Laminate floors are thinner compared to hardwood floors and also require lesser maintenance. A dash of chrome yellow is added as a highlight in all areas: The kitchen backsplash is a glossy yellow mosaic, the dining chairs, and décor. The metal grills in all areas (including the existing tiny windows) is painted grey. The ceiling is kept white.
As opposed to the whole site, the bathroom tiles are kept darker, to contrast the white bath fixtures and chrome fittings. Also, since there is a large window in the bathroom, it would always be sufficiently lit.

DOORS and WINDOWS:
Since the exterior of the site is to be kept unchanged, all doors and windows are kept of the same size as existing. The main window is a designed to be a timber framed, pivoted-openable window. The two tiny windows on the sides are closed with a timber frame and shutter opening inside. The back door is a metal-grill door with glass to allow light in. The bathroom window is a double hung window in aluminium or uPVC. The main entrance bifold doors are kept as they are as requested in the brief but use translucent glass as panels to let the light in.
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The attached files include 14 render images, 7 drawing sheets.
Thank you for putting up the contest. It was a pleasure to work on.
Regards.