Project: Venice Micro Apartment
Architecture: Vertebrae Architecture
Team: Lisa Little, Kristy Velasco, Myrna Ayoub
Location: Venice, California
Photo Credits: Art Gray
Situated just 200 feet from Venice Beach, this Los Angeles micro apartment showcases a hyper-efficient interior. Vertebrae Architecture transformed an underutilized, mostly windowless laundry room into a bright and desirable living space with essential access to natural light and fresh air.
Intelligent Space Utilization
Built-in cabinets create both visual and acoustic separation for the sleeping area, providing ample storage—a necessity for micro living. A vibrant orange built-in bar serves dual purposes as a dining area and as prep space for cooking. The kitchen, with its floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, offers abundant storage. Additionally, a compact office nook under an exterior staircase provides a quiet work zone free from distractions.
Enhancing Natural Light
Large, frosted glass panels bring in ample daylight, reducing the need for artificial lighting and creating a sense of spaciousness. Double doors open up the living area to a new patio, further enhancing the feeling of openness.
Structural Improvements
The unit is on the first floor of a three-story building, with its existing walls forming part of the building’s structural system. Creating new openings and enlarging existing ones were crucial to the design’s success and required precise structural reinforcement. Vertebrae Architecture also reclaimed critical inches in an unused storage area under an exterior stair, converting it into a full bathroom for the apartment.
Minimalist Design
A minimalist color palette was essential for increasing the perceived volume of the space. Matching the color of the cabinetry, countertops, and concrete floor (achieved using an integral color additive) created a cohesive look. The brightly colored, powder-coated metal bar and shelves add visual interest without overwhelming the compact space.
As architects specializing in small-space design, Vertebrae Architecture strives to provide the organizing principles necessary for comfortable living in any size space. This micro apartment near Venice Beach exemplifies effective, efficient design, transforming a small, previously underused space into a vibrant and functional home.
