DAEMS I

where                Saint-Gilles - Sint-Gillis

who                     private client

when                  2024

status                 in construction

size                       40 m2

cost                      1.000 €/m2 excl. VAT

DAEMS is a continuation of the research developed through previous projects CRIB and DEBY, exploring two central themes: how to live well in a small space, and how to use serving spaces — such as bathrooms, toilets, and technical zones — as structuring elements within the architectural layout. 

In this studio apartment, the bathroom block is not just a functional core; it becomes the primary spatial device, articulating, dividing, and organising the interior. A mezzanine is placed on top of the block, further asserting its centrality in the volume. 

From the entrance, the bathroom block acts as a threshold, guiding circulation and framing the access to the living areas. On either side of this block, the living spaces benefit from a generous ceiling height, creating a sense of openness and spatial quality often absent in compact dwellings. 

A large window expands the space to the outside. The staircase leading to the mezzanine is treated as a piece of multifunctional furniture, integrating storage and optimizing every cubic meter. From the mezzanine, the entire volume remains perceptible — an unfragmented, fluid interior.

This project is based on a clear architectural stance: a single, well-placed intervention can reorganize an entire space. The bathroom ceases to be a secondary, residual function; it becomes the generative core of the design. With precision and clarity, a single gesture is enough to define use, circulation, and spatial identity — a compact yet generous architecture.